Question : Green Clearance for Onshore and Offshore Explorations

(a) whether the Government has waived off or proposes to waive off coastal regulation zone clearance for onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration projects and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has exempted hydrocarbon exploration activities from the Environmental Impact Assessment and public consultation mechanism and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the effective alternate mechanisms proposed by the Government to assess environmental impact of such projects and to regulate/supervise the projects; and
(d) the details of the grievance redressal mechanism put in place or proposed to redress the grievances of people relating to such projects?

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 282 FOR ANSWER ON 13.03.2020 REGARDING ‘GREEN CLEARANCE FOR ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE EXPLORATIONS’ RAISED BY SHRI HIBI EDEN.


(a) As per the extant provisions of the CRZ Notification, 2011, exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas and all associated activities and facilities thereto in the CRZ areas requires prior CRZ clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

(b) &(c) Under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, the Government has re-categorized the On-shore and Off-shore oil and gas exploration projects or activities from Category ‘A’ to Category ‘B2’ vide notification number S.O. 236 (E) dated the 16th January, 2020. The project proponent is required to apply to the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Coastal Zone Management Authority for clearances. The State Environmental Assessment Committee (SEAC) examines and appraises such projects with respect to environmental impact and proposed mitigation measures and thereafter makes appropriate recommendation to the SEIAA. Likewise, the concerned Coastal Zone Management Authorities also appraise the project in respect of specific provisions under the Coastal Regulation Zone notification. Such projects are also required to obtain consent under Air and Water Acts from the respective State Pollution Control Boards.

(d)The project proponent is required to submit six monthly environmental statements and compliance to the conditions stipulated in the clearances issued by the SEIAA. The regional office of MoEFCC and the concerned agencies in the State Governments are responsible for monitoring and compliance of the stipulated conditions in the clearance. A provision for appeal against the Environmental Clearance granted, lies with the National Green Tribunal, if preferred within a period of thirty days as prescribed under Section 16 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.


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