(a) whether Government proposes to simplify the procedure for environment clearance to various projects;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the changes made/likely to be made in the existing norms/guidelines;
(c) whether the Government has constituted any committee to review the procedure for environment clearance of various projects or proposed to set up National Environmental Regulatory Authority; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action so far taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a)& (b) The cases of Environment clearance for projects or activities are considered as per the provisions under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006, as amended. The steps taken to further simplify and rationalize the process include inter-alia mandating on-line submission of applications for grant of Terms of Reference and Environment Clearance w.e.f. 01.07.2014; bringing more category of projects within the purview of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs) as Category ‘B’ projects; issuing guidelines for categorization of Category ‘B’ projects into Category ‘B1’ and ‘B2’ etc.
(c) & (d) As regards setting up of an Environment Regulator, it has been decided to do an in-depth analysis including examining the feasibility of setting up of a Statutory Regulator.