527 projects waiting for environmental clearances: Centre

Over 500 projects in various sectors are pending for environmental clearances, the Lok Saha was informed today.
"The number of projects under consideration in the Ministry for Environmental clearances are 527. The proposals are processed for approval as per the provisions under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. These projects are accorded approval within the stipulated time frame and after receiving requisite document from the Project Proponent and state government," Union Environment minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Saha in a written reply.
He said ministry has taken various initiatives and made the required changes in the policies, rules and notifications with the objective to create a clean, simple and transparent process of environmental clearance without compromising on rigour of the environmental concerns.

"Due to streamlining of process and various initiatives of the ministry, the average time taken in granting environmental clearance before July 4, 2014 was approximately 600 days, which has now come down to 192 days," Javadekar said.