The projects or activities covered in the schedule of the EIA, Notification, 2006, are required to obtain prior environmental clearance. This clearance ensures that the environmental impacts of the project are assessed and mitigated before the commencement of the project. Further Consent to Establish (CTE) / Consent to Operate (CTO) is also granted by the State Pollution Control Boards under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, as amended, and applicable.

The Central Government has amended Section 21 of Air (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Section 25 of Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and exempted certain categories of industries from obtaining consents. Consequently, notifications [G. S. R. 702 (E) dated 12-11-2024 under section 21(1) of the Air Act and G. S. R. 703 (E) dated 12-11-2024 under section 25(1) of the Water Act] have been issued to exempt white category of industries completely from consent mechanism and other categories from Consent to Establish if the project or activity has obtained environmental clearance under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. This exemption will not only reduce compliance burden on industries but also promote Ease of Doing Business by reducing duplication of approvals since the criteria for environmental clearance and consent were overlapping.  Exempting certain categories of industries will not have any adverse impacts on environment, since the above notification effectively integrates the two procedures rather than doing away with the consent mechanism.  The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) will have opportunity to put forth their conditions during environmental appraisal process, which will be included in the environmental clearance conditions. A Standard Operating Procedure has been issued in this regard vide Office Memorandum dated 14-11-2024.

The Ministry has undertaken systemic and policy reforms through technological interventions through PARIVESH to streamline and expedite the Environment Clearance process by taking into account the imperative need for development while balancing the same with due environmental safeguards in line with the concept of sustainable development. PARIVESH 2.0 highlights the commitment to transparent and accountable governance. Through IT enablement, the clearance process has been transformed, ensuring accessibility for all stakeholders. The other initiatives taken inter-alia includes delegation & decentralization of Mining, Irrigation, Power and Transportation & Connectivity projects under EIA, 2006 to State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, allowing expansion in production capacity in phased manner up to 50% without Public Hearing subject to environmental safeguards and issuance of Standard Terms of Reference (ToR).

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

 

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