'Online, on-time' is Env Ministry's mantra; launches portal

A month after initiating an online system for getting environment nod, government today launched a similar web portal for submission and monitoring of forest clearance proposals aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in the system.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said his ministry was planning to bring in a process to give both environmental and forest clearances simultaneously and even "in a single day" to industries which adhere to the green norms.
From August 15, all new forest clearance proposals will be accepted only through online mode through this portal.
The "Online Submission and Monitoring of Forest Clearance Proposal (OSMFCP) is aimed at minimising the need for human interface between project applicants and green ministry officials both at the Centre and state level.

"These measures were intended to bring in more transparency, efficiency and accountability in grant of regulatory clearances," Javadekar said after launching the portal here.
He said that the "online submission of application for environment clearance" was launched on June 15 and his ministry had announced on that very day that from July 1, the entire system of getting environment clearance will go online.

"From July 1, the entire system has gone online and progressing well. A month after that, forest clearance will also be online from today. I can say today that ours is 'online' as well as 'on time' (ministry)."

To facilitate smooth transition, for the initial one month, the project proponents will have option to file forest clearance applications through this portal or by physically being present but after August 15, such proposals will be accepted only through through this portal.
He said that during discussions, it came to his knowledge that environmental nod was given first followed by the forest clearance.
"I said there is no rule that it has to happen like this. Why not both simultaneously. We will do both simultaneously and we will bring in a process soon in which industries which adhere to the environment norms, we want to give them both the clearances in a single day. We will do it," Javadekar said.

The web portal for forest clearance will enable real time monitoring of the proposals to ensure that the stipulated time lines for processing by the state and central authorities are adhered to.
With the portal in place, valuable time will not be lost in seeking additional information from the states and project proponents once a proposal seeking forest clearance has been accepted by concerned authority in the state government, officials said.