Question : Corporate Environment Responsibility Scheme

(a) the salient features of the Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) Scheme;
(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under the scheme during the last three years and the current year across the country, State/UT-wise, including Kerala;
(c) the details of the targets set and achievements made under this scheme during the above said period;
(d) whether the result of the scheme is upto the set targets and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government is proposing to earmark a set of percentage of its proposed capital investment in the project for CER and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) The salient features of the Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) guidelines inter-alia include:
i. The cost of CER is to be in addition to the cost envisaged for the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)/Environmental Management Plan (EMP);
ii. The fund allocation for the CER shall be deliberated in the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) or State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) or District Expert Appraisal Committee (DEAC), as the case may be, with a due diligence subject to maximum percentage as prescribed in the Office Memorandum of the Ministry dated 1st May 2018;
iii. The activities proposed under CER shall be worked out based on the issues raised during the public hearing, social need assessment, Rehabilitation & Resettlement plan, EMP, etc. and the proposed activities shall be restricted to the affected area around the project; and
iv. The entire activities proposed under the CER shall be treated as project and shall be monitored.

(b) to (d) The allocation of funds for the CER is based on the issues raised during the public hearing, social need assessment and EMP, which is deliberated by the EAC/SEAC/DEAC with due diligence. The amount of CER varies depending upon the type, nature and size of the project.

(e) Yes Madam, vide OM dated 01/05/2018, the fund allocation for the CER shall be deliberated in EAC/SEAC/DEAC as the case may be, subject to maximum percentage on the capital investment for greenfield projects and brownfield projects as given below:

S.No Capital Investment / Additional Capital Investment (in Rs) Greenfield Project – % of Capital Investment Brownfield Project – % of Additional Capital Investment
I II III IV
1. = 100 crores 2.0% 1.0%
2. > 100 crores to = 500 crores 1.5% 0.75%
3. > 500 crores to = 1000 crores 1.0% 0.50%
4. > From 1000 crores to =10000 crores 0.5% 0.25%
5. > 10000 crores 0.25% 0.125%


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