The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published a draft environment impact assessment (EIA) notification 2020 that seeks to to make the process issue of Environment Clearance for undertaking of some projects or expansion or modernization of such existing projects entailing capacity addition in India more transparent and expedient through implementation of online system, further delegations, rationalisation, standardisation of the process, etc;
New projects or activities including expansion or modernization of project or activities listed under Category ‘A’; Category ‘B1’; and Category ‘B2’ that are required to be placed before Appraisal Committee as specified in the Schedule, shall require Prior Environment Clearance from the concerned Regulatory Authority before start of any construction work or installation or establishment or excavation or modernization.
The draft also lays out a procedure for dealing with non-compliance with conditions stipulated in the environmental clearance by projects. In cases of non-compliance, project proponents can report it suo moto or government committees can do so. The expert appraisal committee will discuss such non-compliance and make recommendations for a time-bound action plan to comply with the conditions and determine a bank guarantee to ensure compliance.
The Ministry has invited objections or suggestions, if any, on the proposal contained in the draft notification within a period of 60 days from the date on which copies of the Notification are made available to the Public. The objections or suggestions, if any, may be forwarded to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi110 003, or to the e-mail address at eia2020-moefcc@gov.in.
Click here to read the Notification.
