Centre issues draft on building permission

The Centre has proposed that the states which adopt environmental conditions in their building bye-laws and make it "legally forceable" will not require a separate environmental clearance.
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave told Lok Sabha that his ministry has issued a draft notification inviting public comments on the proposal for integration of environmental conditions with building permission being granted by local authorities.
"The government has decided to integrate the environmental conditions with building permissions (except for hospitals) being granted by the local authorities. The buildings and constructions as per the size shall follow prescribed objective and monitorable environmental conditions.
"The states adopting these objective and monitorable environmental conditions in their building by-laws and relevant laws and incorporating these in the approvals given for construction thus making it legally enforceable, shall not require a separate environmental clearance for individual buildings," the draft notification said.

It said that the states will send such proposed changes in their bye-laws and rules to the Environment Ministry which will then examine the draft and convey concurrence.
"After the state finally notifies the bye-laws and rules concurred by the Ministry, the Ministry shall issue an order under this notification through individual decision that no separate environmental clearance is required for buildings located in those states," it said.
The local authorities like development authorities, municipal corporations, state pollution control boards (for buildings above 20,000 sq metres) will certify the compliance of these environmental conditions prior to issuance of completion certificates and consent to operate, it said.

The move comes in line with the government's mantra of ensuring "ease of doing responsible business" and streamlining the permissions for buildings and construction sector which is crucial for the implementation of Housing for all scheme by 2022, the notification added.