Telangana, AP to get separate green panels

Separate committees for giving environment clearances to various industrial projects will be set up in Andhra Pradesh and the newly-created state of Telangana.

State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committees (SEAC) have powers to give clearance for category ‘B’ projects related to industry, thermal, infra, river valley and mining.

The term of SEIAA and SEAC of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh expired on October 25, 2013.

In a circular, the environment ministry said the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board has informed the Centre that it will forward names of the experts for constitution of SEIAA and SEAC after formation of new states.

“After bifurcation and creation of new states, state governments shall expedite the process for constitution of SEIAA/SEAC for the respective state and submit the proposal to the Ministry at the earliest,” it said.

In the absence of a duly constituted SEIAA or SEAC for AP, the Centre has decided to treat Category ‘B’ projects as a Category ‘A’ and give environment clearances.