(a) whether a large number of development and infrastructure projects are pending with the Government for environmental clearance;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT- wise; and
(c) the time by which such projects are likely to be cleared along with the steps being taken for clearance of such projects expeditiously?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) & (b) The number of projects under consideration in the Ministry for environmental clearance are 527. The state wise details are at annexure.
(c) The proposals are processed for approval as per the provisions under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. These projects are accorded approval within the stipulated time frame and after receiving requisite document from the Project Proponent and State Government.
The Ministry has taken various initiatives and made the required changes in the policies, rules, and notifications with the objective to create a clean, simple and transparent process of environmental clearance without compromising on rigor of the environmental concerns. Due to streamlining of process and various initiatives of the Ministry, the average time taken in granting environmental clearance before 4th July 2014 was approximately 600 days, which has now come down to 192 days. The important initiatives are:
• Mandating online submission of applications for Terms of Reference (TOR) and Environmental Clearance (EC) from 4th July 2014 in the Ministry and 2nd July 2015 in the SEIAA, with a view to bring more transparency in the system and expediting the decision making;
• Amendments in EIA Notification, 2006 delegating more powers to States (SEIAAs);
• Standardised the Terms of Reference for 38 sectors for preparation of Environment Impact Assessment Report and Environment Management Plan, and mandating finalisation of ToR in 30 days. This has drastically reduced the time required for getting TOR;
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