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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Environment ministry eases clearance norms for highway projects -Dipak Kumar Dash

Environment ministry eases clearance norms for highway projects -Dipak Kumar Dash

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published Published on Dec 22, 2012   modified Modified on Dec 22, 2012
-The Times of India

From now, highway development agencies won't have to apply separately for mining of soil/ earth for such works. As per new norms devised by the environment and forests ministry (MoEF), the highways ministry or any other agency such as NHAI can apply for clearance for getting soil/earth in one go when they apply for environment clearance.

The "workable" decision was taken after highways ministry received support from law ministry for rationalizing the green clearance norms so that highway construct can be sped up and works can start early. Agencies like NHAI and concessionaires procure soil/ earth from areas along the alignment of road projects.

As of now these agencies get separate clearances for road stretch and for mining. But MoEF in its recent guideline has mentioned "more practical and workable" method where the road construction agencies can combine issues of borrow mining of soil/ earth in the environment impact assessment (EIA) and environment management plan (EMP) report of the project while applying for environment clearance.

However, it has listed a number of responsibilities on the agencies seeking green clearances that they have to furnish all details including mining methodology, approved mining plan from state governments, no objection certificate from gram panchayats, to mention a few.

NHAI officials said this would bring some relief, though there would have been greater ease if soil/ earth was denotified as "mine".

Meanwhile, on the issue of delinking forest clearance from environment clearance for a road project has been found and the law ministry in its letter (November 11) to MoEF and highways ministry has fourved the view that the green ministry should not hold back environment clearance for an entire stretch in case only a small portion of the highway is passing through forest area. This should be applicable only to widening projects. "Our view is that already you have a two/ single lane passing through the forest area where traffic is already moving. Allow us to take up work on stretch which does not fall under the forest zone. If we don't get forest clearance, we won't expand the road on that particular zone," said an NHAI official.

Another official added that the law ministry has agreed with the view that road side plantation - in many cases even done by NHAI - should not be treated at par with any reserved forest area and hence the issue of application of Forest Rights Act in such cases can be relooked into.

The Times of India, 22 December, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Environment-ministry-eases-clearance-norms-for-highway-projects/articleshow/17714850.cms


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