No environmental clearance required for construction on the surface of 20,000-50,000 sq.mt – Environment Ministry’s says.

By Abhay Harish Shah , Realty Quarter

The centre stated that in its revised notification on the environmental impact assessment (EIA), construction in areas between 20,000 and 50,000sq.mt would no longer require environmental clearance by the government. The recently issued notice of the Ministry of the Environment indicates that, on the base of amendments and experience in its implementation over the years, it has decided to re-engineer the EIA Regulations.

The new notification by the centre, exempting construction from the environmental clearance on areas between 20,000 to 50,000sq.mt, invited the activists to criticize the move for the benefits of builders.

“As substantial changes to the main notice have occurred over the years, the Minister has decided to re-engineer the whole notification in accordance with the amendments and circulars that have been issued from time to time and experience gained in carrying out the EIA notification over the years,” the Minister said.

The new notification has facilitated the process of sand mining and construction clearances, which did not go well with environmentalists claiming the compromise of the notification by the EIA at public hearings. The draft enables regional authorities, under the direction of the District Judge, to seek public hearing exemptions while granting a green clearance for sand mining on up to 5 hectares.