Lok Sabha Question No. 3183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Environment Protection Laws
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3183

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.01.2018

## Environment Protection Laws

## 3183. N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to amend the environment protection laws so as to promote major projects, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to introduce a system for single window clearance for industries all over the country by relaxing the environmental protection laws and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to enforce the environmental protection laws, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has  conducted  any  study  regarding  the  functioning  of  the Green tribunal and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  satisfied  with  the  existing  structure,  procedure  and functioning of Green tribunal, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor; and
- (f) the details of the reason for amendment of the provision regarding the constitution of the Green tribunal, its function, qualifications etc.?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) No Madam, the Government does not proposes to amend the environment protection laws so as to promote major projects.
- (b) No  Madam,  the  Government  does  not  propose  to  introduce  a  system  for  single window clearance for industries all over the country by relaxing the environmental protection laws. However, to bring more transparency in the Environment, Forest and Wildlife approval processes  for  development  projects/activities,  the  Ministry  has  rolled  out  a  single  window system for submission of application w.e.f. 04.07.2014 at the Central level, on 03.07.2015 at State  level  in  the  State  level  Environment  Impact  Assessment  Authority  (SEIAA)  and  on 28.06.2016 at District level in the District level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA).
- (c) Yes Madam, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal Ministry for implementation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Air (Prevention

and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 for enforcing environmental protection.

(d) No Madam.

(e) Yes Madam. The structure, procedure and functioning of National Green Tribunal is governed  by  the  National  Green  Tribunal  Act,  2010  and  the  National  Green  Tribunal (Manner  of  Appointment  of  Judicial  and  Expert  Members  Salaries,  Allowances  and  other Terms  and  Conditions  of  Service  of  Chairperson  and  other  Members  and  Procedure  for Inquiry) Rules, 2010.

(f) There is  no  amendment  proposed  in  the  Constitution  and  functions  of  the  National Green Tribunal. The relevant provisions under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 have been  amended  vide  Tribunal,  Appellate  Tribunal  and  other  Authorities  (Qualifications, Experience and other Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017 notified on 01.06.2017 by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance under the Finance Act, 2017 (7 of 2017).

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