The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is not a stumbling block to development works or projects. It is only discharging its duties in protecting the environment, Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jayanthi Natarajan said here on Thursday.

The Minister told reporters on the sidelines of a Tree Growers' Mela organised by the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) that her Ministry had the mandate to protect ecology and ensure “pure water and pollution free air” to the people.