PMG to digitise applications for forest, environment clearance

By end of financial year, group aims to put all applications for coal-related project clearances on web

To fast track major investment projects and impart transparency in clearance procedures, the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) under the Cabinet Secretariat has decided to digitise all applications for clearances relating to forest, environment and others by March 2015.

Starting July 1, all forest clearances for industry and infrastructure projects will go online, to be followed by online environmental approvals from September 1 and clearances exploration of mines from November 1, Union Additional Secretary and central PMG Chairman Anil Swarup told PTI.

"Our aim is to bring various ministries into a digitised system to ensure fast-tracking of projects of over Rs 1,000 crore in a transparent way," he said.

He said by the end of the financial year, the group aims to put all applications for coal-related project clearances on the web.

"Through this, the industry will be able to track the projects which will help build investor confidence and revive the investment inflow which had slowed down due to various reasons over the last few years," Swarup said.

He, however, maintained that there could be certain impediments initially, but the objective is to streamline the system.

Swarup said at the central level in all 440 projects have been accepted for consideration so far which entail an investment of around Rs 20 lakh crore.

"So far the central PMG has facilitated clearance of 155 projects that entail an investment of more than Rs 5 lakh crore," he said.

Even state governments are also setting up project monitoring groups that will monitor projects between Rs 100 crore and Rs 1,000 crore. So far eight states including Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttrakhand, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Karnataka have set up PMGs.