Lok Sabha Question No. 3832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Environmental Clearance to Developmental Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3832

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Environmental Clearance to Developmental Projects

## 3832.  SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

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

- (a)   the details of railway, mining, dam/irrigation and new/existing National Highway projects currently pending for environmental clearance during the last five years, project-wise cost along with expected completion timelines;
- (b)  the reasons for delays in granting clearances and the average time taken for approval in each sector;
- (c)   the impact of such delays on project execution and economic development;
- (d)  the steps being taken by the Government to expedite the clearance process, including any proposed policy reforms or single-window clearance mechanisms; and
- (e)   whether  any  sector-specific  measures  have  been  introduced  to  ensure  timely  approvals while maintaining environmental sustainability and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (e) The  Government  of  India  has  issued  Environment  Impact  Assessment  (EIA) Notification, 2006 under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.  As per the provisions laid down in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended, the proposals as mentioned in the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended, are appraised by the Expert Appraisal  Committee  (EAC)  or  State  Level  Expert Appraisal  Committee  (SEAC) considering all the environmental implications involved in the project including the issues raised in Public Consultation. Based on the recommendation of the EAC/SEAC, projects are further  considered  by  the  Ministry  or  State  Environmental  Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for approval for grant of Environmental Clearance (EC) or otherwise. As per the provisions  stated  above,  ECs  are  granted  after  considering  environmental  issues  and incorporating appropriate environmental safeguards, including mitigation measures prescribed in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

As per the extant provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, EC is required for the project activities listed in the schedule of the aforementioned Notification. Railway projects are not covered under the provision of EIA Notification 2006 as amended thereof.  Further  details  of  the  proposal  related  to  mining,  dam/irrigation  and  new/existing National  Highway  projects  submitted  at  central  level  is  given  at  Annexure.  As  per  EIA Notification,  2006,  there  are  39  categories  of  projects  which  require  prior  environmental clearance. For the FY 2023-24, average time taken for grant of ECs to various projects was 81 days.

To expedite the process for grant of Environment Clearance, Ministry in the recent past had undertaken many systemic reforms both through the technological intervention by upgrading the PARIVESH, a Single Window Portal providing end to end online solution and recent amendments in the EIA Notification 2006 such as increasing the validity of ToR/EC, allowing flexibility in baseline data collection before ToR approval and reforms in Public Hearings. Also,  process  for  grant  of  EC  to  Pump  Storage  Hydroelectric  Projects  (PSPs)  was rationalized.  PSPs  not  requiring  Forest  Clearance  or  Wildlife  clearance,  without  new reservoirs,  no  increase  in  submergence  area  and  capacity  of  the  existing  reservoir,  are considered  as  B2  category  of  projects.  Recently,  the  Ministry  has  amended  Item  6  of Appendix  IX  of  EIA  Notification,  2006  stipulating  environmental  safeguards  in  order  to exempt prior EC for extraction of ordinary earth in respect of linear projects.

Aforementioned reforms especially paperless governance in clearance management through PARIVESH have ensured that development proceeds with robust environmental safeguards, contributing to sustainable development enhancing efficiency and transparency in environmental clearance management alongwith maintaining the stipulated timeline of 105 days for grant of EC in the EIA Notification, 2006.

***

| Annexure   | Annexure                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Annexure    | Annexure      | Annexure                |
|------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|---------------|-------------------------|
| S. No.     | Project name                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Sector      | State         | Project Cost (in Lakhs) |
| 1.         | Cluster X Coal Mining Project and Coal Washery                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Coal Mining | JHARKHAND     | 15465                   |
| 2.         | JAWAHAR KHANI 421OPENCAST MINE [Amalgamation of JK-5 OC and 21 Incline(Conversion to OC)]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Coal Mining | TELANGANA     | 29788                   |
| 3.         | KRISHNASHILA OPENCAST PROJECT, NCL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Coal Mining | UTTAR PRADESH | 74162                   |
| 4.         | Bijahan Coal Block                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Coal Mining | ODISHA        | 260000                  |
| 5.         | BHATADI EXPANSION OC MINE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Coal Mining | MAHARASHTRA   | 72985.64                |
| 6.         | Venkatesh Khani Coal Mine (VK Coal mine)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Coal Mining | TELANGANA     | 48451                   |
| 7.         | Banhardih Coal Mining Project of Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (12 MTPA) of M/s. Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (PVUNL) located in villages Ate, Banhardih, Bari, Barwadih, Jagaldaga, Rampur, Sabano, Surli, Tota and Udaypura in Latehar & Chandwa tehsils, Latehar District in Jharkhand State                                                                 | Coal Mining | JHARKHAND     | 675000                  |
| 8.         | Expansion of Gare Palma IV/1 Coal Mine at Villages Nagaramuda, Tapranga, Dongamahua, Dhaurabhanta, Janjgir and Amgaon, Tehsil Tamnar, District Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, (Production: 6.0 MTPA to 8.4 MTPA) of Jindal Power Limited                                                                                                                                           | Coal Mining | CHHATTISGARH  | 48333                   |
| 9.         | Development of Greenfield Regional Expressway on northern side of Hyderabad connecting from Girmapur village (on NH-65 at Ch 492.200 km) in Sangareddy district to Choutuppal (on NH-65 at Ch.55.400 km) in Yadadri Bhuvanagir district via Medak and Siddipet District, comprising total design length 158.645 km, in the state of Telengana under Bharatmala Pariyojana. | Highway     | TELANGANA     | 892343                  |

|   10. | Development of Four-Lane Highway Armoor - Jagtial -Mancherial section of NH-63 (from km 29+100 to km 160+995) of Nizamabad Jagdalpur Inter Corridor (ICR) on Hybrid Annuity Mode under NH (O) in the State of Telangana.                                                                                                                                                                               | Highway         | TELANGANA        |    488097 |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|
|    11 | Mining of Sand, Stone &Bajri from Sarai Nala situated in Mauza Palchan & Mohal Solang proposed by Sh. Pratap Singh Partner M/s Paras Stone Crusher                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Non-Coal Mining | HIMACHAL PRADESH |    10     |
|    12 | Morukhedi Stone (Gitti) Quarry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Non-Coal Mining | MADHYA PRADESH   |    50     |
|    13 | Proposal for Environmental Clearance for Chaanakya Cements Limestone Mine of M/s. Penna Cement Industries Ltd for Increase of Limestone Production from 1.50 MTPAto 1.80 MTPA with Increase of Total Excavation from 1.552 MTPA to 2.263 MTPA (Limestone production: 1.800 MTPA + Mineral Sub-grade: 0.433 MTPA+ Interstitial Waste: 0.018 MTPA + Top Soil: 0.012 MTPA) Mining lease area: 354.236 Ha. | Non-Coal Mining | TELANGANA        |  1569     |
|    14 | Proposed Limestone Mine 'Mudhvay Sub Block A' (Area: 198.90.98 ha) with limestone production capacity of 2.5 Million TPA, Top Soil: 0.22 Million TPA, Over Burden: 2.08 Million TPA (Total Excavation: 4.8 Million TPA) at Village: Mudhvay, Taluka: Lakhpat, District: Kachchh, Gujarat by M/s. JK Lakshmi Cement.                                                                                    | Non-Coal Mining | GUJARAT          | 20000     |
|    15 | Granite Building Stone Quarry of Haridasan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Non-Coal Mining | KERALA           |   263.269 |
|    16 | Enhancement of limestone production from 1.6 MTPA(ROM)to3.94MTPA(ROM)with total excavation of 3.9475 MTPA (ROM 3.94 MTPA + TS 0.0075 MTPA) in the mine lease area of 417.95 ha at Revoor & Mellacheruvu villages, Mellacheruvu Mandal, Suryapet district, Telangana of M/s. Rain Cements Limited                                                                                                       | Non-Coal Mining | TELANGANA        |  4050     |
|    17 | Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s Scottia Mines Pvt. Ltd, Managing Director, Mr. Jomit Jose                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Non-Coal Mining | KERALA           |   300     |

|   18. | Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s Paloth Granite Metals , Managing Partner, Mr. Mashood                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Non-Coal Mining   | KERALA         |   450 |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|----------------|-------|
|    19 | Granite Building Stone Quarry of Mr Shafeeq Ali P                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Non-Coal Mining   | KERALA         |   100 |
|    20 | Granite Building Stone Quarry of Mr Nissamudeen K S                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Non-Coal Mining   | KERALA         |   300 |
|    21 | Proposed Granite/Building Stone Quarry of M/s Al Jouf Granite Metals, Managing Partner, Shri Ashraf P T, at Survey no.- 183/1, 183/8, 184/4, 185/1, 185/2, 185/3-1, 185/3-2, 185/2-1, 185/3- 3, 187/2, 187/3 Urangattiri Village, Eranad Taluk, Malappuram District of Kerala State for Lease area of 4.1132 ha                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Non-Coal Mining   | KERALA         |   420 |
|    22 | Expansion in Production Capacity of M/s. JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd., Captive Limestone Mines (Mine Lease I of Area 267.695) from 4.8 MTPA to 8 MTPA from Both Mine Leases Ml- 1, with Existing Crusher and with Additional Crushing Capacity of 1500 TPH at Villages- Semariya, Ghikuria & Nandini Khundini, Tehsil - Ahiwara (Old Teh. Dhamdha), District - Durg, Chhattisgarh. (Env. Consultant - Anacon Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Nagpur).                                                                            | Non-Coal Mining   | CHHATTISGARH   |  8300 |
|    23 | Fresh Environmental Clearance for the Gold Ore Processing Plant (0.3 MTPA) component out of the existing Environmental Clearance for Mining and Processing of Gold Ore (ROM 0.4 MTPA and Ore Processing Plant of 0.3 MTPA) of Jonnagiri Gold Mine Project (ML Area: 597.82 Ha )of M/s Geomysore Services (India) Limited                                                                                                                                                                                           | Non-Coal Mining   | ANDHRA PRADESH | 32000 |
|    24 | Expansion of Limestone Production Capacity of M/s. JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd., Limestone Mines (Mine Lease II of Area 252.105 Ha.) Production Capacity from 0.3 Million TPA to 1.35 Million TPA, for Which Top Soil: 0.0243 Million TPA Overburden: 0.0972 Million TPA, Inter Burden: 0.0945 Million TPA, Total Excavation (ROM): 1.566 Million TPA) at Villages-Semariya, Ghikuria & Nandini Khundini, Tehsil- Ahiwara (Old Teh. - Dhamdha), District- Durg (Chhattisgarh). (Env. Consultant- Anacon Lab. Pvt. Ltd.). | Non-Coal Mining   | CHHATTISGARH   |  5300 |

|   25. | Proposed expansion under para 7(ii) of EIA notification 2006, in production capacity of Limestone from 5.6 Million TPA to 6.7 Million TPA from 'Maliakhera Limestone Mine' (ML No. - 04/2003, Area- 315.409 Ha.) of M/s JK Cement Limited located at Village- Maliakhera, Tehsil Nimbahera, District Chittorgarh, State- Rajasthan                                                                                                                                                                                 | Non-Coal Mining   | RAJASTHAN      |   9494.95 |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|----------------|-----------|
|    26 | Ujjainiya Stone Gitti and M-sand quarry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Non-Coal Mining   | MADHYA PRADESH |     80    |
|    27 | ALANGULAM LIMESTONE MINES G.O. 427 by M/s. Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Ltd (TANCEM)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Non-Coal Mining   | TAMIL NADU     |     23.31 |
|    28 | Mining of Magnesite and Dunite (Mine Lease Area 622.29 Ha, Production Capacity 26,43,936 MTPA ROM)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Non-Coal Mining   | TAMIL NADU     |    300    |
|    29 | Expansion in Narayanposhi Iron & Manganese Ore Mine [ML Area 347.008 Ha (As per DGPS)/349.254 Ha (As per ROR)] with Iron Ore (ROM 10 MTPA & OB 4.216 MTPA) Total Excavation 14.216 MTPA & with Manganese Ore (ROM 0.036 MTPA & OB 0.223 MTPA) Total Excavation 0.259 MTPA along with Mobile Crushing &Screening Plant (400TPHx10 Nos & 250TPHx07 Nos), CPU 2000TPH, Grinding & Beneficiation Plant 6.0MTPA for Mineral Processing & Slurry Pumping Station to transport Iron Ore Concentrate at Sundargarh, Odisha | Non-Coal Mining   | ODISHA         |  96000    |
|    30 | Kannur (Wadi area) Limestone Block (auction block) having lease area of 550 Ha by ACCLtd.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Non-Coal Mining   | KARNATAKA      |  47100    |
|    31 | Mahulasukha Iron and Manganese Block over an area of 390.317 Ha in Village: Randa, Rantha and Bhutuda; Sub-Division : Bonai, Tahasil : Lahunipada, District: Sundargarh, Odisha                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Non-Coal Mining   | ODISHA         |    167    |
|    32 | Proposed 3D2 Limestone Block (Auctioned Block) (Area: 434.08502 ha) with Proposed Limestone Production Capacity 3.0 Million TPA, OB/waste 1.15 Million TPA, Top Soil 0.34 Million TPA, (Total Excavation 4.49 Million TPA) along with Installation of Crusher (2000 TPH) with Wobbler at Villages: Harima                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Non-Coal Mining   | RAJASTHAN      |  12410    |

|    | & Sarasani, Tehsil and District: Nagaur, Rajasthan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                 |                |            |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|------------|
| 33 | Kodingamali Bauxite Mine (ML Area: 428.075 ha) with Expansion in Bauxite Production Capacity from 3.0 Million TPA to 3.6 Million TPA (Phase I - 20%) at Village: Kodingamali, Tehsil: Laxmipur & Kashipur, District- Koraput & Rayagada, Odisha under Para 7 (ii) (a) of EIA Notification, 2006 as per MoEFCC OM dated 11.04.2022 & 30.05.2022 of M/s. Odisha Mining Corporation Limited.                                                                                                                            | Non-Coal Mining | ODISHA         |   4900     |
| 34 | Expansion of Iron Ore production capacity from 10 MTPA to 26 MTPA Hematite, 45 MTPA BHQ (Banded Hematite Quartzite), 5 MTPA Waste (Total Excavation: 60.0 MTPA) along with crushing and screening plant at Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine lease area of 348.09 Ha., located near Village Surjagarh, Tehsil Etapali, District Gadchiroli, Maharashtra of M/s. Lloyds Metals &Energy Ltd.                                                                                                                                     | Non-Coal Mining | MAHARASHTRA    | 171358     |
| 35 | Expansion of Zawar Group of Underground Lead-Zinc Mines from 4.8 Million TPA to 6.5 Million TPA Ore Production with Total Excavation: 7.78 Million TPA including Waste rock 1.28 MTPA & Beneficiation from 4.8 Million TPA to 7.3 Million TPA within ML Area of 3620 ha (ML No.03/89) at Villages- Zawar, Kodiya Khet, Nayakheda, Rawa, Tidi, Udiyakheda, Barothi Bhaldia, Bara, Chanawada, Dhavadi Talai, Kanpur, Newa Talai, Padla, Parsad, Krishnapura, Singhatwara, Tehsil-Girwa &Sarada, District-Udaipur (Raj) | Non-Coal Mining | RAJASTHAN      | 125000     |
| 36 | Expansion in Limestone Production Capacity from 0.50 million TPA to 1.0 Million TPA, Top Soil 240 TPA (0.00024 Million TPA), OB 0.88 million TPA (Total Excavation 1.88 Million TPA) in Hinauti Extension Limestone Mine (ML Area - 258.867 ha) at Villages- Hinauti, Dengraha, Biharganj & Judmani, Tehsil- Ramnagar, District-Satna, Madhya Pradesh by M/s. UltraTech Cement Limited.                                                                                                                              | Non-Coal Mining | MADHYA PRADESH |    800     |
| 37 | Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s Blue Chips Mines and Industries (Represented by its Managing Partner, Shri. Thomas Babu)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Non-Coal Mining | KERALA         |    203.417 |

|   38. | ALANGULAM LIMESTONE MINES G.O. 427 by M/s. Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Ltd (TANCEM)             | Non-Coal Mining   | TAMIL NADU   |   23.31 |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------|---------|
|    39 | Mining of Magnesite and Dunite (Mine Lease Area 622.29 Ha, Production Capacity 26,43,936 MTPA ROM) | Non-Coal Mining   | TAMIL NADU   |     300 |