Lok Sabha Question No. 267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Assessment of Real Estate Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, RAM CHARITRA, K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 267

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Assessment of Real Estate Projects

## 267. SHRI V. ELUMALAI: SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD: SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether it is true that buildings and real estate projects between 20,000 and 300,000 sq. meters are no longer required to be assessed for environmental impact by the Centre and if so, the details thereof:
- (b) whether it is also true that States now can integrate the clearance process of such projects into their building bye laws to streamline environmental clearance to a significant chunk of building projects and if so, the details thereof:
- (c) whether a new category of consultants called qualified building environment auditors and empanelled by the  Ministry of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change  would  assess and certify building projects; and
- (d) if so, the detail thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  vide  Notification  No.  S.O. 3999 (E) dated 9 th December, 2016 has laid down the process for Integration of environmental conditions in building bye-laws. The notification has laid down the procedures and the objective, monitorable environmental conditions.

The  projects  of  buildings  and  constructions  with  built  up  area  20,000  sq.  meters  and above  requires  prior  environmental  clearance  from  the  State  Level  Environmental  Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).

The new notification dated 9 th December, 2016 provides for integration of environmental conditions with the building permission for building and construction projects with built up area of 20,000 sq. meters to less than 1,50,000 sq. meters. Environmental clearance for projects with built  up  area  from  1,50,000  sq.  meters  to  less  than  3,00,000  sq.  meters will  be  given  by  the SEIAAs, while the projects with built up area equal to and above 3,00,000 sq. meters will  be appraised  by  the  Central  Government.    Similarly,  the  projects  with  area  ≥  150  hectare  are Category 'A' and will be appraised at the central level. (b) The notification dated 9 th December, 2016 provides for the procedure to be followed for above integration. It provides that the States will forward the draft of proposed changes in their building bye-laws and rules to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who in turn  will  examine  the  said  draft  bye-laws  and  rules  and  convey  the  concurrence  to  the  State Governments. When the State Governments finally notifies the bye-laws and rules concurred by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Government may issue an order stating that no separate environmental clearance is required for building and construction projects less than 1,50,000 square meter built-up area. The Ministry has issued such orders in respect of Delhi and all Municipal Corporations, Municipal  Councils  and  all  Special  Planning  Authorities  in  Pune  and  Konkan  Divisions  of Maharashtra. th December, 2016, provides that the Qualified Building Environment  Auditors  (QBEAs)  would  assess  and  certify  the  building  projects.  The  QBEAs

(c) & (d) The notification dated 9 could be a firm / organization or an individual expert, who fulfils the requirements.

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