12-member GoM to review forest clearance norms

With environmental clearances coming in the way of industrial activity, a 12-member Group of Ministers (GoM) will be reworking the existing statues and rules relating to forest clearance.

The move has been triggered by the ongoing turf war between Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and several other ministries over his controversial decisions to deny clearance for important projects on environmental grounds. The GoM will be holding its first meeting on Thursday.

The GoM, representing more than a third of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 34-member Cabinet, is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Besides Ramesh and coal minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal, other members include Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma, Mines Minister Dinsha Patel, Road Transport Minister C P Joshi, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Verappa Moily and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Interestingly, tribal affairs minister Kantilal Bhuria’s name does not figure in the list of members, though Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma are included.

The agenda note lists three predominant “issues” that are to be considered by the GoM, including efficacy and legality of existing forest clearance norms and procedures, environmental clearance in respect of projects in areas of high Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) and steps to be taken to ensure better quality forests are regenerated in a time-bound manner after mining operations are over. The GoM will suggest changes in existing statutes, rules, regulations, guidelines or executive instructions.

The environment ministry had last year imposed a temporary moratorium on development projects in 43 clusters labeled “critically polluted”. Seven coalfields – Chandrapur, Korba, Dhanbad, Talcher, Singrauli, Asansol and IB Valley – fall under the CEPI moratorium.

“The GoM will consider all issues relating to reconciliation of environmental concerns emanating from various developmental activities including those related to infrastructure and mining and finalise recommendations within two months,” said an official, requesting anonymity.

Confirming the broad-based nature of discussions the GoM will have, another official said: “The GoM will discuss the overall forestry issues.” One of the major issues is the resolution on the no-go areas for coal mining. Although Coal India had come up with the classification, it opposes the ban on no-go mining areas.

Coal minister Jaiswal had said on Tuesday that Ramesh had agreed to relax the moratorium allowing 16 of Coal India’s projects in the seven blocks to take off. Five of the 43 clusters have been taken off the moratorium list by the environment ministry. It lifted moratorium from another eight critically polluted sites today.