Govt imposes standard environment clearance conditions for 25 sectors to bring uniformity

New Delhi, Aug 23 (KNN) Aiming to bring uniformity in terms and conditions for environment clearances (EC), the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has imposed standard conditions for as many as 25 industrial sectors like steel, coal oil and gas exploration and hydropower projects.

The ministry believes that these standard conditions will lead to a uniform, transparent process which will be free of corruption and any arbitrariness.

It believes that this move will lead to improve ease of doing business and cut down delays in time taken for granting clearances.

In a statement, the Environment Ministry, said “In order to bring uniformity on stipulated terms and conditions across the projects and sectors and as a general guidance to EAC as well as project proponents, the ministry has prepared standard conditions for 25 sectors.”

The government-constituted green panel called Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) assesses the projects and makes recommendations, based on which the Environment Ministry grants the final EC. 

The 25 sectors include iron, steel, cement, coal, petroleum refineries, industry, paper and pulp industries, hydro-electric projects, industrial estates, among others. 

The standard EC conditions will have to be considered by EAC at the time of appraisal of the proposals.

EAC after due diligence, can modify, delete and add conditions based on the project specific requirements, the statement said. 

The recommended conditions by EAC should be brought in the minutes of the meeting, it added.