The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has extended the tenure of environmental clearances (EC) granted for existing or new projects.
- The environmental clearances for river valley projects will now have a 13-year validity, and nuclear power projects or those involving the processing of nuclear fuel 15 years.
- Projects and activities other than the mining and river valley projects will have their EC valid for 10 years.
Rationale behind expansion
- Nuclear power projects and hydropower projects had “high gestation” period due to “geological surprises, delays in forest clearance, land acquisition, local issues, rehabilitation and resettlement and such other factors which are often beyond the control of project proponents and in this context.
- The Central government “deems it necessary” to extend the validity of Environmental Clearance (EC) for such projects.
What is an environmental clearances (EC) ?
- An environmental clearance is a long-drawn process that is mandatory for projects beyond a certain size and often involves an environment impact assessment of a potential project and sometimes public hearings involving the local populace who might be affected by the project.
- One of the conditions of an environmental clearance is that a project must begin construction in the period that it has been granted an environmental clearance and if unable, a fresh process must begin.
- This leads to projects being financially unviable. Mining leases are now granted for a period of 50 years but the Environment Clearance is valid for 30 years.
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