18 thermal, 17 hydro power projects waiting environmental nod

Presently 18 thermal and 17 hydro power project proposals were awaiting environmental clearances while one thermal power project, 12 hydro power projects and two wind power projects were being appraised for forest clearances, the government said today.
"At present, proposals of 18 thermal power projects and 17 hydro power projects are under appraisal for environmental clearance under Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
Similarly, one thermal power project, 12 hydro power projects and two wind power projects were being appraised for forest clearance under Forest Conservation (Act), 1980.

He further said that in 2013, 12 thermal power projects and nine hydro power projects were given environmental clearances in different states, while while three nuclear power projects were given environmental clearances between 2011-13.
Replying to another question, Javadekar said that as per the EIA Notification 2006, prior environmental clearance is mandatory for oil and gas transportation pipeline passing through national parks, sanctuaries and others including LNG terminal.
The use of forest land for laying of oil and gas pipelines requires prior approval of central government under Forest Conservation Act 1980, he said.

As of now, two projects -- Proposed Shahdol-Phulpur pipeline project in MP and UP by Reliance Gas Pipeline Ltd and Haridwar-Rishikesh-Dehradun National Gas Pipeline and its branch lines by GAIL (India) Ltd in Uttarakhand -- seeking environmental clearances were pending with his ministry.

Replying to another question, he said that since October 25, 1980, his ministry has received 28,900 proposals seeking prior approval of central government under Forest Conservation Act 1980.
He said that major reasons for delay in taking decisions on proposals seeking approval under FCA 1980 for diversion of forest land for non forest purposes were receipt of incomplete proposals, delay in submission of additional information including those related to settlement of Rights under Scheduled Tribes and other tradition forest dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act 2006 and others.