Now, online route for states to get Centre’s green nod

Union Environment and Forests Ministry on Thursday launched a web portal for green clearance of smaller projects of states to cut delay and ensure transparency in their approval.

Until now, there was an online system for giving environment, forest and coastal regulation zones 

clearances for category 'A' projects related to industry, thermal power, infrastructure, river valley and mining across the country.

Speaking to media persons here, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the decision will help states avoid instances of missing files.

He informed 19 states have embraced the system which will help them give environment, forest and wildlife clearances and added remaining ones are expected to join the league soon.

"The ministry started giving permissions online for projects taking place on forest land ('A' category) last year.

Its benefit was that project plans could be submitted from anywhere, anytime. This avoided delay and instances of files going missing.

"Hence, <g data-gr-id="27">similar</g> process is being initiated at state-level for 'B' category - small projects - which are cleared by states," Javdekar said.

'A' category projects are the ones which require approval from <g data-gr-id="32">Centre,</g> while those falling in 'B' category are dealt at state-level. In states, environment approvals are issued by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (<g data-gr-id="28">SEIAA</g>) and State Environment Assessment Committee (SEAC).

Javadekar said both the committees will now work online – a process, which he said, is in line with Narendra Modi government's good governance call.