New Bodies Proposed to Expedite Green Clearances

The Environment Ministry has proposed the establishment of the Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA) and the Standing Committee on Environment Impact Appraisal (SCEIA) to accelerate the process of granting environmental clearances for development projects categorized under Category B across states and union territories.

The Environment Ministry is taking steps to streamline environmental clearances by proposing the creation of two new bodies. Officials have issued a draft notification to establish the Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA) and the Standing Committee on Environment Impact Appraisal (SCEIA) at the state level.

These bodies will focus on evaluating Category B development projects such as construction, mining, and industries. The goal is to provide timely environmental clearances, with the understanding that these bodies will be activated if existing systems are incapacitated, operating for a period of up to six months with a potential six-month extension.

Historically, the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 designated SEIAA and SEAC as the relevant authorities to evaluate these projects. The current proposal aims to ensure expedited processes to mitigate project delays and bolster sustainable development goals.

(With inputs from agencies.)