Centre proposes to fast-track environmental clearances

Clearing the decks for faster environmental clearance of projects, the Centre has proposed a set of norms demarcating projects that won146...

Clearing the decks for faster environmental clearance of projects, the Centre has proposed a set of norms demarcating projects that won8217;t require its okay. The new proposal will reduce by more than half the total time needed for a final clearance: it can be obtained within 12 months unlike the existing process which takes 21 to 28 months.

The new norms will ensure delegation of greater powers to state-level regulatory bodies. The revised environmental clearance process will be on the agenda when state environment ministers and secretaries meet for a two-day conference tomorrow.

Also on the agenda will be concerns voiced by several state governments over the controversial July 7 environmental impact assessment notification which makes it mandatory for the Union ministry to grant envrionmental clearance to all new projects over Rs 50 crore, constructions meant for more than 1,000 people or involving daily discharge of 50,000 litres of sewage. Industrial projects which are likely to have a higher impact on environment or impact more than one state or a neighbouring country will need clearance from the Centre.

Other projects will only require approval from the concerned state government. But all projects sponsored by the state government or entities controlled by them will require Central clearance. A steering committee will be set up to decide which category will a project fall in and whether it needs to come to the Centre for clearance.

Category A has projects like nuclear power, river valley projects with more than 1000 ha command area, ports and harbours, ship breaking yards, thermal plants with more than 500 MW capacity among its 19 activities.

The AB list comprises 27 activities like automobile units, basic organic chemicals, construction of all projects in urban areas generating more than 50 kilo litres of waste water daily, mining of major minerals upto 25 ha.

Environment ministry officials say that the objective is to involve state governments in implementation of environmental regulations and bring in more efficiency and transparency in granting clearances.