Dr. Afroz Ahmad was born on 14th November, 1958 at Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh in a family having descend from the Lodi Dynasty.
He is an World renowned Environmental Scientist, Academician, Development Administrator and a Civil Servant. He holds Doctorate, United Nations (UNEP/UNESCO) & Government of Germany`s Policy makers International training in Environmental Management and Protection at the Science Academies, United Nations (UNs) Organizations, Ministries, Institutes, Universities in Germany, Austria, Russia and Czechoslovakia and United Nations (UNs) First International Leadership training from the United Nations University (UNU) in Jordan and Academic, Scientific, Political, Diplomatic and UNs Organizations in Israel, Palestine and Egypt. He has further undertaken specialized training in Environmental Protection & Management in England, Sweden, China & Japan.
He has over three decades of practical experience in Environmental Governance, Development Administration, Conflict Resolution, Diplomacy, Coordination and evolving Policy & Programmes and its application in the fields for Environmental Management & Sustainable Development. Served as Advisor to the Government of Maharashtra for the Environment & Forest Affairs with the Status of the “State Guest”, during 2019 - 2020, appointed by the Chief Ministers of Government of Maharashtra ( Devendra Phadnavis & Uddhav Bal Thackeray); Served as Member (Environment & Rehabilitation) during 2014 - 2018 ; Member (Civil) during 2018 in the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India appointed by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Director (Rehabilitation & Impact Assessment) during 1991- 2014; Chief Vigilance Officer, appointed by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Government of India during 2008 - 2015; Appellate Authority under RTI Act, 2005 during 2015 - 2018 in the NCA and founding Scientist in the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development, Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change during 1989 to 1991.
His Notable Contributions to the Nation for which he is Credited are:
- Pioneer in Application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and implementing Sustainable Development in the Himalayas, Indo-Gangetic Plain and Peninsular Regions in India.
- Integrated Environment with Development, ensured Human Rights and Rehabilitation of about One million human population mostly tribals (indigenous) displaced from the major dams in the Narmada Valley & Coordinated about two dozen litigations challenging the Narmada Projects in the Supreme Court, High Court of M.P. and Green Tribunal and evolved strategies to defend it (herculean tasks), resulting completion of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam (World’s most debated & largest Irrigation Project), Statue of Unity (World’s tallest Monument) & other Projects in the Narmada Basin.
- Resolved Inter-States Disputes related to Environment, Forest & Rehabilitation Affairs concerning Narmada between four major States namely; Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- Tackled World’s largest People’s Movement started in late eightees in India and abroad (Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Sweden, European Parliament etc.) against Narmada Dams through diplomacy, negotiations/dialogues. It also includes handling of over one hundred Agitations / Dharnas / Demonstrations / Hunger Strikes / Public Hearings launched by the prominent Activists, NGOs, Civil Societies, former Civil Servants/Judges/Central & State Ministers, prominent religious, Human Rights, Film personalities, Artists, Celebrities like Baba Amte, Medha Patkar, Arundhati Roy, Arvind Kejriwal etc. on the issues of Rehabilitation, Forest & Environment concerning major Dams in the Narmada Valley.
- Evolved mechanics of Negotiations & Diplomacy and translated in the fields for Conflict Resolution related to shared Natural Resources and Sustainable Development in the Country.
- Mobilized National & International Actions for the Environmental Management & Sustainable Development by delivering over 1000 Lectures in most of the prestigious Universities, IITs, Institutes, Academies, Ministries, UNs Organizations in India & several Countries of Europe, Africa, Asia.
- Evolved Policy & Programmes for Communication & Application of Science & Technology at the grassroot (Panchayats) level in most of the States of the Country.
- Pioneer in Advocating Indian Environment Service (IES) in India during 2002.
- Formulated Guidelines for the Conservation & Management of Wetlands in India under the aegis of Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 etc.
He has credit of having dialogues on Environment & Development issues with the World's Leaders like their Majesties King Hussain & Queen Noor, Crown Prince Hassan, Dr. Majali (Prime Minister), Speaker of Senate and several Ministers of Jordan; Nobel Laureate Yasser Arafat, Dr. Hannan Ashravi & several Ministers in Palestine; Nobel Laureate Simone Peres (Prime Minister), Speaker of the Parliament and several Ministers in Israel; Nobel Laureate Prof. Konrad Lorenz (Ethologist) in Austria; Amr Musa (Foreign Minister), several Leadership experts in Egypt; Simone Veil (President European Parliament), Ian Gilmour (Defense Minister UK), Dr. Harlan Cleveland (US Secretary of State), and more than 50 Celebrities in diplomacy, International Politics, UNs, International Agencies, consummate Politicians in Austria, Czechoslovakia, China, England, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden etc.
He has credit of advising/briefing Presidents of India Pratibha Patil & Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam & Prime Ministers of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr. Manmohan Singh in the matter of the Narmada and Rajiv Gandhi on Himalayas. Worked closely and advised/advising time to time to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India in the matter of Narmada, Policy & Programs related to Environment and Sustainable Development since 2002.
He is also credited of discussing issues of International Environmental Law with the Justice B. Upadhyaya (Chief Justice, Supreme Court Nepal), Justice Amedeo Postiglione (Italian Supreme Court), eminent Jurists from Switzerland, Japan, China, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Indian Environmental Law with the Chief Justices of Supreme Court namely; Justice A.M. Ahmadi, Justice A.S. Anand, Justice B.N. Kirpal, Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Justice R.C. Lahoti. He has advised/assisted Attorney Generals for India namely ; Soli Sorabjee, Ashok Desai, G.E. Vahanavati, Mukul Rohtagi and Solicitor Generals of India namely ; D.P. Gupta, Harish Salve, Kirit Rawal, S.G. Subramanian, Tushar Mehta in the matter of Narmada.
He has one Book on Environmental Impact Assessment published by the United Nations (UNEP/UNESCO) & Government of Germany, 02 Books based on Success Stories of Natural Resources Management , Rural Reconstruction & Human Rehabilitation and 02 short Films based on his Core Concept & Contributions depicting Success Story of Integrating Environment with Development produced by the Government of Maharashtra. Authored over 125 research papers / articles / reports including three research papers published by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Sweden which select Nobel Laureates on Policy / Programs planning & their practical implementation in the fields related to Environmental Management, sustainable Development, Human Resettlement & Rehabilitation, Rural & Urban Reconstruction.
He has been Chairperson and nominated Members of several high level Committees of the Central and States Governments, International Organizations/Institutions, Civil Societies etc. on Environment & Development. He was conferred dozens of National and International Honors, Awards, Appreciations & Recognitions. He is widely traveled and represented Government of India/India extensively in Abroad.
Assumed responsibility of Expert Member of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on January 15, 2022 on appointment by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister.