The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 16th June 2021 has published the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2021 to further amend the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
Through this amendment, the ministry has extended the validity period of notifications expiring in the financial year 2020-2021 and 2021- 2022 to 31st December 2021 or six months from the end of the month when the relevant notification would have expired without any extension, whichever is later.
As per rule 5(3) (d) The Central Government shall within a period of 120 days from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette consider all the objections received against such notification and may within 180 days from such day of publication impose prohibition or restrictions on location of such industries and the carrying on of any process or operation in an area.
“Provided that on account of COVID-19 pandemic, for the purpose of this clause, the period of validity of the notification expiring in the financial year 2020-2021 and 2021- 2022 shall be extended up to 31st December, 2021 or six months from the end of the month when the relevant notification would have expired without any extension, whichever is later.
