EAC set up to consider defence projects: Javadekar

The Environment Ministry has constituted an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to consider the defence sector proposals and expediting environment clearance for projects in the sector.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that all defence sector proposals are kept in Category "A" in the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 2006 and considered at the central government level.
"The ministry has constituted an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to consider the defence sector proposals for expediting the process for grant of environment clearance to such projects," Javadekar said to a question whether the government proposes to grant quick environment clearance to defence projects.

He said his ministry considers applications for grant of environment clearances from various sectors, including defence, as per provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 2006 as amended from time to time which inter-alia prescribes the time-lines for considering the proposal.
The reply comes after the ministry has already decided to give more power to states for giving regulatory nods for defence projects especially in border areas.
Javadekar had earlier said that to address the security and strategic interests of the nation, general approval for diversion of forest land required for construction and widening of border roads within 100 km of Line of Actual Control (LAC) has already been accorded.

A similar grant of general approval for diverting forest land for setting up strategic defence installations and infrastructure like army stations, ammunition depot along 100 kms of LAC was also also under "active" consideration by his ministry, he had said yesterday.