Lok Sabha Question No. 163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Projects pending for Environmental Clearance
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Kirsan Namdeo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 163

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## Projects pending for Environmental Clearance

## 163. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

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

- (a) whether the projects of Centre and State Governments are pending with various States and Union Territories for want of environmental and forest clearance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) the details of the irrigation schemes/projects of the State Government of Maharashtra which are under consideration of the Central Government; and
- (d) the present status thereof and the time by which the Central Government is likely to take a decision in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)  As  per  the  provisions  laid  down  in  the  Environment  Impact  Assessment  (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended, the proposals are appraised and recommended by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) at the Central level or State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC)  at  the  State  level depending  on  the  category  of  the  project.  Based  on  the recommendations of the aforesaid committee, projects are further considered by the Ministry or  State  Environmental  Impact  Assessment  Authority  (SEIAA),  as  the  case  may  be,  for approval for grant of Environmental Clearance (EC) or otherwise. A total of 105 days, from the date of receipt of complete application, has been stipulated under the provisions of EIA Notification, 2006, as amended for conveying the decision on the EC proposal to the applicant.

As regards Forest Clearance (FC), the proposals for diversion of forest land for non-forestry purpose  are  processed  as  per  the  provisions  of  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, which is a continuous process. The proposals received from the States/UTs for  various  non-forestry  purposes  are  examined  by  the  Central  Government  for  their completeness and decision is taken as per extant Rules and guidelines on a case to case basis. In case the proposal is found incomplete, the same is returned back and the essential details are sought from the concerned State/UT. Based on the area of forest land involved in a proposal, the minimum time line of up to 85 working days and maximum time line of up to 160 working days  has  been  prescribed  under  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan)  Rules,  2023  for conveying  decision  on  'In-Principle'  approval.  The  proposals  are  processed  online  on  the PARIVESH portal and the status of each proposal is available in the public domain.

As per the information available on the PARIVESH portal, no irrigation schemes/projects of the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra  are  under  consideration  for  EC  at  the  Central Government.  However,  three  (03  nos)  irrigation  projects  of  the  State  Government  of Maharashtra  namely  (i)  Asolamendha  Renovation  Project  (Area  315.74  ha)  in  district Chandrapur, (ii) Sambarkund Medium Project (Area 263.540 ha) in district Raigad, (iii) Laying close Pipe Line distribution system from 600 mt to 1140 mt on Sorna Feeder Canal of Sorna Medium Project (Area 0.783 ha) in district Bhandara have been  submitted on  PARIVESH portal for diversion of forest land.

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