Centre approves 9 Gujarat government proposals, says minister

Nine more Gujarat government proposals pertaining to projects inside forest land, which were awaiting environmental clearances, have been approved by the Union Forest and Environment Ministry, a Gujarat cabinet minister said here today.
These nine projects include environmental clearances to the Gujarat state government to construct a 40-km road passing through the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Kutch region, which was announced by the Gujarat state government yesterday.
"Similarly, eight other proposals put forward by the Gujarat government has been given a go-ahead by the Union Forest and Environment Ministry headed by Minister of State Prakash Javdekar," Gujarat cabinet minister Nitin Patel said here today.

The eight environmental clearances include the one to construct a 22-km long Narmada branch canal passing through a forest area in Kutch.
"The total length of the Narmada branch canal is 36 km, out of which a 22-km stretch falls in forest land. Thus we had sought environmental clearance from the ministry to construct that stretch," Patel said.
"Another proposal which received environmental clearance to make changes in the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary in North Gujarat. The other six environmental clearances were related to mining projects in forest areas," said Patel, adding that the Gujarat state government is yet to get one more clearance before starting actual work.

"Except for mining projects, we are now supposed to get one more clearance from the 'Central Empowerment Committee' appointed by the Supreme Court for all three projects, including a road and canal to be made in Kutch as well as changes in the Balaram sanctuary," Patel said.
"We will submit our proposals to this Committee for its final approval. We will start our work after getting the approvals," Patel said.