CAG underlines need to ensure sustainable development

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) Comptroller and Auditor General of India V N Kaul today said audit which identified the long-term implications of developmental projects of the Government was assuming a prominent place in the work programmes of audit institutions the world over.

Inaugurating a training programme here, Mr Kaul said over the years, a variety of environment audits have been conducted in India ranging from reviews of measures undertaken by Government to prevent pollution of our major rivers, to audit of government programme for protection of endangered species of tigers and of protection and sustenance of environment in and around our national parks and sanctuaries.

He was addressing the first International Training Programme on 'Environment Audit' which began at the International Centre for Information Systems and Audit (ICISA), an institution under the Comptroller and Auditor General of India here.

The CAG has also conducted workshops on Natural Resource Accounting but it is for the first time that an international training programme is being organised on these issues, he noted.

A total of 38 participants from the supreme audit organisations of 30 countries covering almost all the continents are attending the programme.

Delineating the aims and objectives of the training programme, Mr Kaul said it would cover some important conceptual issues including International Training Standards of supreme audit institutions of various countries and guidelines for monitoring and implementation of environmental policy; major international environmental accords; environmental impact assessment and ISO 14001; and clean development mechanism and the natural resources accounting.

He hoped the programme would provide a platform for bringing together participants from a wide range of countries to exchange ideas for better international communication, cooperation and collaboration for 'acting intelligently' to ensure sustainable development and pursuing of economic goals without adversely affecting the environment and eco-system.

During the month-long programme, participants will undertake field visits to organisations concerning water and air pollution and biodiversity issues. They are also scheduled to visit the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for an understanding of marine ecology issues.

UNI