(a) whether the Government has fixed any Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards conservation of environment in Maharashtra;
(b) if so, the details thereof, district-wise; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government for effective implementation of relevant schemes pertaining to conservation of environment in the State?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) to (c) The Ministry has not fixed any Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards conservation of environment. However, the Ministry vide Office Memoranda dated the 1st May 2018, 30th September, 2020 and 25th February 2021 has issued guidelines to set aside funds towards Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) inter-alia for conservation of environment in the project affected areas. These Office Memoranda inter-alia have given policy framework to the Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) at the Central level and the State to prescribe activities committed by the project proponent in the Environment Management Plan (EMP) with regard to the commitments made by the project proponent during the public consultation. In such cases also where public hearing is not involved, the project proponents shall be bound to take up all activities proposed by them in the EMP as well as any additional activities that may either be committed by them before the EACs/SEIAAs or the same have been prescribed by the EACs/SEIAAs. The proposed activities shall be restricted to the affected area around the project and the entire activities proposed under the CER shall be treated as project and shall be monitored.
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