Lok Sabha Question No. 1802 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Time-Bound Environmental Clearance
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1802

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2016

## Time-Bound Environmental Clearance

## 1802.  SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  steps  to  grant  environmental clearance for the proposed projects within the stipulated time frame;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

| (a) to (c)   | The Government considers the projects for environment clearance as per provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time. The timelines prescribed in the Notification for various stages of clearance are: • 30 days specified for prescribing the Terms of Reference (TORs); • 45 days for public consultation; • 60 days for appraisal; and • 45 days thereafter for communicating the decision to project proponent. The initiatives taken for streamlining and rationalizing of the environment clearance process inter-alia include, mandating the online submission of applications for Terms of Reference (TOR) and Environment Clearance with a view to bringing in transparency in the system and expediting decision making, regular monitoring of status of pending projects, regular and longer duration meetings of Expert Appraisal Committees for consideration of projects in different sectors, amendments in EIA Notification, 2006 providing more powers to SEIAAs, standardizing the Terms of Reference for preparation of EIA Report, exempting the construction of industrial shed, school, college, hostels for education institution from requirement of EC, exemption to all highway projects in border States from scoping requirement and exempting all linear projects in border States from the requirement of public hearing subject to suitable conditions prescribed by the Ministry, non requirement of no objection for   |
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| transfer of environment clearance of cancelled coal block to legal person to whom such block is subsequently allocated and also without referring to EAC / SEAC, increased the validity of Environment Clearance, delegated power at the district level headed by District Magistrate or District Collector for mining of minor minerals including sand mining for mine lease area upto 5 ha. for individual lease and 25 ha. in cluster, constituting DEIAA and DEAC. etc.   |
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