Cabinet unlikely to take up NIB issue tomorrow

Concerned over delay in implementation of mega infrastructure projects, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had recently proposed a Prime Minister-headed NIB to accord speedy clearance to projects.

Difference have cropped up over the authority of the proposed body with Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing any move to bypass required green clearances for mega project approvals by the proposed Board.

Natarajan said the manner in which changes have been sought on the issue of granting project approvals was disturbing and she wondered why NIB should step in when decisions like green clearances have to be given by her ministry.

Several large projects involving investments of Rs 1.5 lakh crore are being held up because of delay in statutory clearances.

At the meeting of full Planning Commission last month, Chidambaram had proposed that the NIB's authority should extend to proposals/projects where the investment is above a certain threshold.

Earlier in June, the prime minister had approved setting up of an investment tracking system to ensure speedy implementation of mega projects envisaging outlay of over Rs 1,000 crore.