Question : Projects Awaiting Environmental Clearance

(a) whether more than 1000 new projects are awaiting environmental clearances in the country as on date and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government follows any fast track mechanism for according environmental clearance to various projects to facilitate the rapid industrial development in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made efforts to expedite the clearance of pending proposals from various State Governments and PSUs by providing power to grant approval to the State Authorities and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the detailed list of companies granted environmental clearance in the last three years and till date for executing projects worth more than 5000 crores, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (c) No Madam. The Ministry has taken several steps to expedite the process of environmental and forest clearances which inter alia include online system of processing of environmental clearances, introduction of Short Message Service (SMS) functionality for Project proponent, auto alert system; separate module to track the progress of recommended projects, delegation of powers to Regional Empowered Committee (REC) to dispose of proposals seeking forest clearance to linear projects, etc.

(d)The detailed list of companies granted environmental clearance in the last three years and till date for executing projects worth more than 5000 crores, State-wise is given at Annexure.
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