The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bhutan. The agreement was signed to improve cooperation in the areas of the Environment.
MoU Provisions:
♦ MoU will enable and promote the closer and long-term cooperation between India and Bhutan in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity, and mutual benefits.
♦ Both the countries agreed mutually to set priorities in the following areas of the environment including Air, Waste, Chemical Management, Climate Change, any other areas jointly decided upon.
♦ The agreement will stay in force for a period of 10 years.
♦ It encourages organizations, private companies, government institutions at all levels and research institutions on India and Bhutan to establish cooperation activities.
Background:
The MoU was signed between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India and the National Environment Commission (NEC) of Bhutan on 11 March 2013. This MoU expired on 10 March 2016. Considering the benefits of the earlier MoU, both sides have decided to continue cooperation and collaboration in the field of Environment