New Cabinet committee for environment clearance: Govt

Government has decided to constitute a Cabinet Committee on Investment to speed up environment clearance of various projects, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"Function of the committee would be to identify key projects required to be implemented on a time-bound basis, involving investment of Rs 1,000 crore and more," Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said in a written reply to the House.
She was responding to a query on whether there was a proposal for formation of a new board to speed up environment clearance of various projects in the country.
"While there is no proposal to constitute a new Board to speed up environment clearance of various projects, the government has decided to constitute a Cabinet Committee on Investment," Natarajan said.

Besides prescribing time limit for issuance of requisite approvals and clearances by ministries/departments concerned in respect of projects in identified sectors, the Committee would also monitor the progress of identified projects, she said.
The minister said the Committee will, "consider and decide measures required for expeditiously granting/refusing approvals/clearances in identified sectors including simplification of rules/procedures followed by respective ministries/department for decision making."
To an another question, she said 10 per cent of non-plan expenditure of Delhi Zoo has been cut in view of guidelines on austerity measures issued by the Finance Ministry.