Online proposals, uniform terms across industries have fast-tracked green nod

Environment approval time under NDA is 192 days against 599 under UPA, forest clearance in 170 days against 430: Ministry analysis

The government has fine-tuned the number of days taken to grant environment clearance to projects under the NDA rule compared to UPA regime, while listing out initiatives that have made the change possible. An analysis of 1,000-odd projects done by the environment ministry shows that the weighted average time taken to give green nod has reduced to 192 days during NDA, from 599 days under UPA government. Average time taken for forest clearance has also come down to 170 days during the NDA government, from 430 days under UPA rule, the analysis claims.            

In fact, if environment ministry was seen as a laggard in the previous government, NDA wants to showcase this ministry as one of the best performers, according to officials.

Last month, union minister for environment and forests Prakash Javadekar had said at a press conference that the NDA government had stuck to an average of 190 days as against UPA’s 600 days for granting environment clearance. Javadekar had said that 943 projects worth Rs 6.72 lakh crore were cleared by his ministry till now.

Online submission of proposals and tracking their status without having to knock the doors of officials have contributed significantly in reducing the time taken to grant environment and forest approvals, it is believed. This relates to environment, forest as well as wildlife clearance proposals.

In addition, the environment ministry believes that standardizing the terms of reference for 38 sectors and its finalization in 30 days along with delegated powers to regional empowered committees to dispose proposals have all cut down the time for approval.

Also, measures to rationalize norms relating to classification of industries for the purpose of consent management regime of the State Pollution Control Boards have helped in fast-tracking projects, the ministry has said. For instance, industries have been categorized as red, orange, green and white based on their pollution potential assessment, with least polluting being labeled as white. In fact, white industries don’t have to obtain the series of consents required for others, and this will cover startups too.

Javadekar had however pointed out that the government, along with quick decision-making, was exercising caution not to compromise on environmental safeguards.