Environmental clearance process made more transparent

Environmental clearance process made more transparent
The Hindu Business Line, July 21, 2009, Page 15

Our Bureau, New Delhi

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided to put information regarding the clearance process on its Web site to increase transparency of the process.

Information relating to status of pending projects, schedule and agenda of the meeting of Expert Appraisal Committees (EAC), minutes of the EAC meeting, environmental clearance letters, and circulars and guidelines relating to Environmental Clearance would be available on the Ministry Web site.

The Minister of Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, also told Parliament that the Lower Painganga Project in Maharashtra was accorded the environmental and in-principle forest clearance in May 2007 and February 2009 respectively.

He added that two Special Economic Zone (SEZ) projects are awaiting environment clearance from Gujarat. For the “PhaEZ Park” SEZ project requisite information had been received and proposal would be included in the Expert Appraisal Committee for New Construction Projects and Industrial Estates meeting scheduled to be held in August 2009. The SEZ project at Dahej is yet to submit the site map, including areas falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone.