From wpsi@VSNL.COM Sat Aug 21 13:59:34 2004
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 19:03:50 +0530
From: Wildlife Protection Society of India 
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: CLARIFICATION: Simplification of Environmental Clearance Procedure
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We would like to clarify that the following message was a Press Release
that was sent out by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India,
on 21 July 2004.

Links can be found at www.sify.com/legal/fullstory.php?id=13526804, and
also at www.pib.nic.in.

SIMPLIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE PROCEDURE
New Delhi, July 21, 2004

Environmental clearance for project proposals is granted usually within
the mandated time frame of 120 days from the date of receipt of complete
information from the project authorities. However, environmental
clearance for many of the projects gets protracted beyond the prescribed
time frame due to non-submission of the requisite information.

Various measures have been taken by the Ministry of Environment and
Forests to streamline and simplify the environmental clearance procedure
with a view to promote time-bound and transparent decision making, by
making amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and
Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications and by bringing procedural changes.
These measures include:-

·       Time limit of 90 days for completing appraisals, 30 days for
communicating decision and 60 days for completing the public hearing by
State pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

·       Investment limit raised from Rs. 50 crores to Rs. 100 crores for
new projects.

·       Dispensed with the requirement of public hearing for Small Scale
Industries (SSIs) located in industrial areas/estates, widening and
strengthening of highways, offshore exploration activities beyond 10 kms
from the nearest habitat, mining projects of major minerals with lease
upped 20 ha, modernisation of existing irrigation projects and units to
be located in Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Special Economic Zone
(SEZ).

·       Dispensed with the requirement of EIA report for pipeline
projects.

·       No Objection Certificate (NOC)/consent to establish not insisted
upon at the time of receipt of         the application for environmental
clearance.

·       Industrial projects costing less than Rs. 5.0 crores are examined
in-house and decision taken.

·       Powers have been delegated to the State Governments for granting
environmental clearance of
        certain categories of thermal power projects.

The simplification of environmental clearance procedures already brought
forth has helped in expediting the process for grant of environmental
clearance. In order to further improve and expedite the environmental
clearance process and make it more effective, time bound and transparent,
a comprehensive review of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification,
1994 has already been taken up.

END

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WILDLIFE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF INDIA
M-52, Greater Kailash Part I
New Delhi 110 048
Tel:  (Int+91.11) 2621.3864 & 2629.2492
Fax: (Int+91.11) 2646.4918
Website: www.wpsi-india.org
Email:     wpsi@vsnl.com
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