Environment Clearance

Env clearance to Adani's Chhattisgarh coal project despite NGT's rejection

The Centre has again approved a coal mining project operated by an Adani Group company in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, just six months after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) revoked its environmental clearance, directing the environment ministry to reexamine the case from the stage of the public hearing. There was no reaction available from the Adani Group till the filing of this report. The Rs 7,465-crore coal mine project, which will affect 14 villages in the Gare Palma area of Tamnar tehsil, belongs to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco), with Gare Palma II Collieries Pvt. Ltd., an Adani Group company, as the mine developer and operator. The environmental clearance has been granted despite studies highlighting serious concerns about the project's impact on the socio-economic and health conditions of villagers, hydrology, and carrying capacity, suggest government records. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the Centre for granting clearance again

Sri Lanka Supreme Court sets Oct 14 for Adani wind power projects case

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday set October 14 as the date for the hearing of five fundamental rights petitions filed against the wind power plant undertaken by the Indian conglomerate Adani Group in the north-eastern region of Mannar. The three-member bench of the apex court here ordered the respondents to file objections before September 13. Environmental NGOs had filed petitions claiming that the project endangers biodiversity and poses a threat to migratory birds. The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society filed the case, naming the government, the Board of Investment and the Central Environmental Authority among others as respondents. The environmental rights group had claimed in court that a decision by the Cabinet to treat the Adani wind power project as a Sri Lanka-India government-to-government venture was illegal and that it would cause immense damage to the migratory bird population causing environmental hazards. The group had also challenged the action by Minister

EU must prepare for 'catastrophic' climate change risks: Environment agency

Policymakers need to draw up new plans to address the challenges, the Copenhagen-based body said in its first Europe-wide analysis of climate-related risks

Parivesh 2.0 portal to be default platform for all environment clearances

The guidelines signed on January 25 said that the applications on PARIVESH 1.0 that haven't shown progress in the past 90 days will be deemed inactive and rejected

U'khand tunnel collapse: 'You can't act surprised,' says environment expert

While large projects in India are required by law to undergo an Environmental Impacts Assessment, the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand was exempt as it is divided into segments smaller than 100 km each

Absence of building permit system led to destruction in Joshimath: Report

The absence of a building permit system is cited as one of the primary reasons for the extensive damage to houses in the subsidence-hit area of Joshimath in Uttarakhand, according to a post-disaster needs assessment conducted by government agencies. Starting January 2, a number of houses and civil structures in an area located near Joshimath-Auli road began to display major cracks due to land subsidence, prompting the relocation of 355 families. According to local residents, land subsidence had been noticed over several years but became increasingly severe from January 2 to January 8. A 35-member team consisting of professionals from the National Disaster Management Authority, UN agencies, Central Building Research Institute, National Institute of Disaster Management, and other agencies conducted a "Post Disaster Needs Assessment" from April 22 to April 25 to assess the damage caused and to identify the assistance required for the long-term recovery and reconstruction of the affecte

NGT imposes environment compensation of Rs 200 crore on Nagaland

Rs 200 crores be utilized for setting up solid waste processing facilities, remediation of legacy waste and setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and FSSTPs so there remains no gap, it added

Delhi SEIAA panel gives nod to Executive Enclave which will house new PMO

The Delhi State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has granted environmental clearance to the proposal for the construction of the 'Executive Enclave' which will house the new Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Secretariat. The Delhi State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had last week recommended the SEIAA to give green nod to the project. The SEIAA discussed the project at a meeting on Wednesday and approved it. The Forest Department had on August 23 granted permission to the Central Public Works Department, the user agency, to transplant 487 of the 807 trees at the site under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. CPWD officials said the proposal had been submitted for environmental clearance in December last year. The SEAC, which vets the proposals before they are sent to SEIAA for clearance, had earlier this month set up a sub-committee to examine the implementation of the Delhi government's policy for tree transplantation and review the site plan in order

Amendments in EIA notification: Can the govt really avoid public notice?

The Centre will now exercise the power to assess and grant environmental clearance to the projects under national defence or security importance, instead of the state

Strengthen environmental clearances

First, we need to accept that the system has become unnecessarily convoluted and must be streamlined

Tesla gets eco nod to produce EVs at Gigafactory Berlin, with riders

The environmental approval for the giant factory faced a lot of opposition with concerns ranging from deforestation to water supply and more

Industries cannot operate without prior environment clearance, says NGT

Industries cannot operate without prior environment clearance (EC), the National Green Tribunal has said while holding that the State has no power to exempt the requirement

India allowing industries to expand with little scrutiny is disaster risk

The March 2021 amendment of EIA notification of 2006 reduces the scrutiny of habitually polluting units which want to increase capacity and product mix.

ONGC gets green nod for Rs 3,500 cr onshore exploration project in Assam

The Union Environment Ministry has given green clearance to ONGC, the country's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, after taking into account the recommendations of a green panel

Centre's ambitious oil & gas output target hits environment hurdle

Several assets under the discovered small fields rounds (DSF I & II) and open acreage licensing policy (OALP) are facing hurdles in getting clearances from environment departments

DIAL gets green nod for Rs 1,310-cr commercial building project in Aerocity

As per the proposal, both projects will be developed in the Gateway district of Aerocity, Indira Gandhi International Airport

Development, environment should be in tandem for $5 trn economy: Javdekar

The minister also said that under his leadership, the government has already reduced the number of days of granting environmental approvals from 640 days to 108 days

We will give environment, forest clearances in 100 days: Javadekar

Says govt to implement bar code enabled system to end sand mafia in country