Local bodies in Pune, Konkan to give environ clearances

Municipal corporations and special planning authorities in Maharashtra's Pune and Konkan area have now been empowered to give environment clearances to construction projects of built up area of 1.50 lakh square metres.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has made this arrangement, which is already in place in Delhi, with an aim to enhance ease of doing business, decentralisation and delegation of powers.
"The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change...Orders that no separate environment clearance is required for building and construction projects up to 1,50,000 sq mtr built up area in respect of all municipal corporations, municipal councils and all special planning authorities in Pune and Konkan divisions," an order issued by the ministry said.

States have to apply to the Union Environment Ministry by incorporating necessary provisions in their building bye-laws to avail the facility to issue environment clearances by the local bodies, an official said.
Union Urban Development minister M Venkaiah Naidu had held a series of meetings with the environment minister and other senior officials to provide such arrangement, he added.
The move will also improve India's ranking in ease of doing business, he added.