Environment ministry clearances to be 'policy based': Javadekar

Says giving clearance to defence projects is top on agenda

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said the government will evolve "policy based solutions" for the pending environment clearances, adding the delay in clearances for defence projects has been due to their case-by-case consideration.

"We are evolving new ways of solutions to the existing problems of environment clearances by evolving policy based solutions," Javadekar told reporters here.

"Delay in the defence projects were due to case-by-case decision making process. We will put policies in place and make policy based decisions," he said.

The environment minister said giving clearance to defence projects will be the priority for his ministry.

Javadekar said he will meet the defence secretary and discuss the pending projects.

As the environmentalists were concerned over the clearance to proposed radar station in Narcondam island of Andaman and Nicobar, the minister said environment protection will be kept in mind while framing the policies.

"In Narcondam and other areas, we will ensure complete protection of nature, including of hornbills. We won't compromise on environment protection," Javadekar said.

He also said forest clearances along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the working boundary line between India and China, will be given by the concerned state government.

"The 100-km area within the LAC is for defence purpose, but you need forest clearance... It will be brought under general approval mode (under state government) so that defence projects can be expedited and forests can also be conserved," said Javadekar.

The minister said he will discuss the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.