Public Projects

Govt okayed 43 projects in eco-sensitive zones in 5 years: Ashwini Choubey

The Centre granted environmental clearance to more than 80 per cent of the proposals for "projects and activities" in the eco-sensitive zones of the country in the last five years, Union minister Ashwini Choubey informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. He also said the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life (SCNBWL) recommended a total of 689 proposals in the last five years. The minister said the environment ministry approved 43 of the total 53 proposals received in the last five years for "projects/activities" in the default eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) according to the provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. ESZs are eco-fragile areas within 10 kilometers of the borders of protected areas, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. According to government data, SCNBWL recommended 153 proposals in 2018-19; 71 in 2019-20; 85 in 2020-21; 149 in 2021-22 and 231 in 2022-23.

Twelve of 31 states, UTs project debt more than 35% of GSDP at FY24 end

It is not that only the poor states such as Bihar have high debt in proportion to their GSDP

Nitin Gadkari invites US bizmen to invest in Indian highway projects

The minister recently announced that the NHAI InvIT will soon be open to retail investors, and will assure them a minimum return of 7-8 per cent.

How delays in public projects could impact govt's fundraise plans via NMP

Time and cost overruns could impact private sector participation in the ambitious National Monetisation Pipeline programme

Goyal: Don't need change in law to acquire land for public projects

"We do not need any change in land laws to acquire land for public projects", said minister with independent charge for power, coal, mines and renewable energy Piyush Goyal at a book release event in New Delhi on Monday.According to Goyal, he has been flooded with requests from land holders from different parts of the country, who want the government to buy their land. "The requests are from all areas; they are willing to sell under the current laws".The minister's comments are significant since large segments of industry have claimed it has become impossible for them to buy land for putting up projects under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which governs land sales in rural areas of the country. The Act, passed by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, has been pilloried for its insistence on carrying out social impact assessment prior to any large-scale acquisition of land by a government or private body in for non-agricultural purposes.