Question : ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FOR PROJECTS

(a) whether several proposals forwarded by various States for grant for environmental clearances in respect of Infrastructure/Road/ Coal Mining/ Railways/Irrigation project etc., are still pending with the Government;

(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year, project/ State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of steps taken/being taken by the Government to simplify/expedite the clearance for the said projects;

(d) whether the Government proposes to extend the validity of environmental clearance from five years to seven years; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b) Yes Sir. Total 40 projects related to infrastructure, coal mining and irrigation sector are under consideration of the Ministry for grant of Environment Clearance under provisions of EIA Notification, 2006. State-wise status of such projects is at Annexure. Railway projects are not covered under EIA Notification, 2006 and accordingly do not require any Environment Clearance.

(c) The Ministry consider the proposal for grant of Environment Clearance under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, which provides time-line for each stage of consideration. However, the Ministry has taken various streamlining measures to expedite the environment clearance process, which includes (i) on-line submission of application for grant of Environment Clearance/ Term of Reference, (ii) regular monitoring of status of pending projects, (iii) regular and longer duration meetings of Expert Appraisal Committees for consideration of projects in different sectors, (iv) constitution of State / Union Territory Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs) in 26 States/ UTs to deal with the Category ‘B’ projects, (v) guidelines for Categorization of B Category projects into B1 & B2 Category etc.

(d) & (e) Yes Sir. A decision has been taken in the Ministry for extending the validity of Environment Clearance from five years to seven years. The decision has now been forwarded to the Ministry of Law & Justice for legal vetting. Environment Clearance for irrigation and river valley projects are valid for ten years.