Question : Environmental Clearance to K-Rail Project

(a) whether the Government proposes to permit mega projects without environmental impact study and if so, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the State Government of Kerala has applied for environmental clearance to K-Rail Silver Line Project in Kerala and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government has received complaint regarding the attempt of State Government of Kerala to execute K-Rail project without environmental impact study and if so, the details of action taken thereon;
(d) whether the State Government of Kerala has submitted Environmental impact study regarding the K-Rail Silver Line Project and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Environmental impact study is mandatory for mega project K-Rail and if so, the action taken thereon; and
(f) whether the Union Government proposes to initiate action against the K-Rail project considering the adverse impact on environment and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (f) All new projects or activities or the expansion or modernization of existing projects or activities listed in the Schedule of the EIA notification, 2006, as amended; to be undertaken in any part of the country either by the private or Central/State Government agencies require prior environmental clearance.

Ministry has not received any proposal from the State Government of Kerala for K-Rail Silver Line Projectfor grant of Environmental clearance. A complaint was received in the Ministry to stop and cancel all activities concerning the silver line project for which a reply has already been sent by the Ministry. In this context, it is to state that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 covers 39 projects/activities in the schedule which includes different types of projects. However, Railway Projects including Metro Rail Projects are not covered under EIA Notification, 2006. As per the information provided by Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL); during Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation stage, KRDCL has conducted a rapid EIA study based on which, the DPR was prepared.

The conditions prescribed in the Environmental Clearance (EC) are monitored by the monitoring wing of the Ministry. Ministry has been taking series of actions to monitor and enforce strict adherence to EC norms.


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