Highway projects won't need separate approval for mining soil

"Separate environment clearances for mining of soil/earth from borrow areas, which are part of a highway project, are not required...The construction/widening of highways along with the mining of soil/earth from borrow areas to be considered as a single project for appraisal," a circular issued by the Environment Ministry here yesterday said.

The circular said that instead of processing environmental clearance for individual borrow areas, it would be more practical if the project executing agency applying for clearance for highway project also combines the issues of borrow mining of soil in the Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan report of the project.