'Delay in granting environ clearance affecting dev along LAC'

The delay in granting environmental clearance has affected development of military infrastructure, especially along areas bordering China, Government said today.
"It has been observed by the Central Government that due to lengthy processes involved in grant of approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, many important defence projects, especially the border roads in areas close to Line of Actual Control are getting delayed," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

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He also said that with a view to expedite creation of requisite road network along the LAC, Environment Ministry has accorded general approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land required for construction and widening of two lane roads by the Border Road Organisation (BRO) and other road construction agencies entrusted with the job by the Ministry of Defence, in the area falling within 100 km aerial distance from the LAC.

Javadekar said the Ministry has also put in the general approval section the issue of clearance for widening of roads (by the BRO and other road construction agencies) which are identified by the Defence Ministry as link roads, between border roads in the area within 100 km aerial distance from the LAC and National Highways/State Highways/Other State roads.
He said his Ministry has asked the Defence Ministry to identify strategic defence infrastructure related activities which are to be taken up in the area within 100 km distance from the LAC and submit the list of such activities along with the proposal for grant of General Approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land required for such projects.

The Environment Ministry has also requested the Ministry of Defence to submit a proposal along with justification for granting relaxation in respect of applicability of Forest Rights Act, 2006 to all strategic defence projects (including infra-structure and road projects) being taken up in the area within 100 km of the LAC by any user agency identified by the Ministry of Defence, Javadekar said.