CB BureauIn probably the first significant policy decision under the new minister Jayanthi Natarajan, the ministry of environment and forests has sought to ‘simplify’ the processes that are followed for obtaining environmental and forest clearances.
The move is aimed at removing roadblocks in major development projects including several national highways and industrial or mining projects that are located on forest land.
Yesterday, CauseBecause had reported that the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) has asked the government to de-link environment and forest clearances for highway projects as they delay the development projects.
Reiterating the earlier order by then minister Jairam Ramesh, that said no environmental clearance can be granted to a project till it obtains forest clearance, the ministry has allowed the two processes to go on simultaneously. By allowing the two processes to proceed simultaneously, the ministry has tried to cut down on the time required for a project to obtain green clearances, a prospect that would be welcomed by the industry.
Ramesh had earlier argued that companies often make investments at the project site on the basis of the environmental clearance and this investment is then put forward as the rationale for obtaining forest approval. His decision was however opposed by his own colleagues in the cabinet.
On the other hand, Natarajan has been assuring her cabinet colleagues that she would try her best to cut down on delays in obtaining environment approvals, which are given after assessing the potential impact of the project on environment. Forest clearance is to keep check on the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.