Question : Time Taken for Environmental Clearance

(a) the details of the average time taken for environmental clearances as per the norms laid out by the Government;
(b) whether the Government has reduced the average time period for environmental clearances from 600 days to190 days and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the measures taken to ensure that environmental impact assessments are conducted thoroughly;
(d) whether the said measures include screening environmental impact assessment report preparation, public hearings and appraisals and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether all stakeholders are given adequate notice before decisions regarding clearance are made and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether stakeholders are involved in public hearings, especially at the grassroot level and if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor?

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

(a) & (b) The average time period for environmental clearances has come down from 600 days to 162 days during 2017. The year wise details of average time taken for grant of environmental clearance is as follows:

Year Number of days taken to grant Environment Clearance
Prior to 2014 600 days
2015 184
2016 223
2017 177

(c) & (d)The Government has taken several measures to ensure that environmental impact assessment is conducted thoroughly which, inter alia, include screening for category “B” projects / activities; Scoping, Public consultation and appraisal of category “A” and “B” proposals by the Expert Appraisal Committee; mandating the submission of environmental impact assessment reports as per the generic structure prescribed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 as amended time to time; mandating the preparation and presentation of environmental impact assessment report and environmental management plan by the environmental consultant organizations which are accredited for a particular sector and the category of the project for the sector with the Quality Council of India or National Accreditation Board for Education and Training or any other agency as notified by the Ministry; mandating certificate of Compliance of earlier Environment Clearance conditions from the Regional Offices of the Ministry or State Pollution Control Board in case of expansion proposals etc.

(e) & (f)The stakeholders are involved in the public hearing conducted at site or in its close proximity and also obtain response in writing from other concerned persons having plausible stake in the environmental aspects of the project or activity. On receipt of application for public hearing by the project proponent, the member secretary of the concerned State/ UT Pollution Control Board/Committee finalizes the date and time and exact venue for the conduct of public hearing and advertises the same in one major National Daily and Regional vernacular daily / official State Language. The Agenda, Proceedings of the Expert Appraisal Committee and Environment Clearance letter are posted on the Ministry’s Website for Public/Stakeholder’s access. Further, it is mandatory for the project proponent to advertise the environmental clearance granted for their project along with the environmental conditions and safeguards, in at least two local newspapers of the district or State where the project is located and in addition, this shall also be displayed in the project proponent’s website. The copies of the environmental clearance shall be submitted by the project proponents to the Heads of local bodies, Panchayats and Municipal Bodies in addition to the relevant offices of the Government who in turn have to display the same for 30 days from the date of receipt.


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