Lok Sabha Question No. 1459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: NOC for Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1459

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2016

## NOC for Projects

## 1459. SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

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

- (a) whether projects from various States/UTs pertaining to water resources, transport and other development schemes meant for social welfare are pending in the absence of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  time  since  the  said  projects  are  pending  and  the  time-bound  programme  of  the Government for quick clearance thereof;
- (c) the  number  and  details  of  international  highways/national  highways,  dams,  canals projects which have been obstructed in the absence of NOC; and
- (d) the action plan prepared by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) to  (c) The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  grants  Environment Clearance (EC) and Forest Clearance (FC) to projects as per the provisions of EIA Notification, 2006 and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 respectively.  Developmental projects located inside the Protected Areas (PA) or within 10 km distance of the PA [in  case  the  Eco  Sensitive  Zone  (ESZ)  has  not  been  notified]  or  the  notified  ESZ around  the  PA  will  require  the  recommendation  of  the  Standing  Committee  of National Board for Wildlife under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A list  of  pending  projects  for  EC,  FC  and  wildlife  recommendation  is  enclosed  as annexure.
- (d) The major initiatives taken by the Ministry to streamline the process of EC, FC and wildlife recommendation, inter-alia include use of information technology, increasing of Regional Offices from six to ten, constitution of Regional Empowered Committees  (REC),  delegation  of  powers  to  Regional  Office  for  forest  diversion, grant  of  FC  by  RECs  for  linear  projects,  delegation  of  more  powers  to  State  level

Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs), standardization of Terms of Reference for all sectors, finalisation of ToRs within 30 days, general approval for roads and other strategic infrastructure in area of 100 km from line of actual control, general  approvals  for  two  lane  roads  in  117  Left  Wing  Extremism  districts, exemption  to  highway  projects  in  border  states  from  scoping  requirement  and exempting  linear  projects  in  border  states  from  the  requirement  of  public  hearing subject to suitable conditions, delegation of powers to District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) headed by District Magistrate/District Collector for mining of minor minerals including sand, constitution of additional Expert Appraisal Committees,  regular  meetings  of  the  Expert  Appraisal  Committees,  review  of pending projects at various levels in the government etc.

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## ANNEXURE  referred to in Reply to part (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1459 due for reply on 26.7.2016 regarding NOC for Projects raised by Shri Hariom Singh Rathore, Hon'ble Member of Parliament

## Projects Pending for Grant of EC, FC and Wildlife recommendation

| Sectors                       | Clearances/recommendation   | Clearances/recommendation   | Clearances/recommendation   | Total   |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|---------|
|                               | EC                          | FC                          | Wildlife                    |         |
| Industry                      | 170                         | 13                          | 2                           | 185     |
| Thermal                       | 09                          | 06                          | 4                           | 19      |
| River Valley &Hydro- Electric | 22                          | 62                          | 5                           | 89      |
| Mining (Coal)                 | 25                          | 94                          | -                           | 251     |
| Mining (Non- Coal)            | 129                         | 94                          | 3                           | 251     |
| Infrastructure                | 63                          | 553                         | 29                          | 645     |
| Nuclear, Defence &Others      | 14                          | 24                          | 20                          | 58      |
| Total                         | 432                         | 752                         | 63                          | 1247    |