Environment Clearance Process
All major project which are more than 20000 sqm (thumb rule) as required to be cleared by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) under MOEF act 2006.
MOEF is organized into state govt and Central Govt bodies.
Organisation. MOEF (central Govt) – State Environment Impact Assessment Authority or SEIAA, (lead by IAS officer) –State Environment Assessment Committee or SEAC ( Committee of experts from factory, agriculture, forest, pollution, PHE and many departments- about 10-15 experts).
Projects under state govt/centre govts power depending on their location with respect inter state boundaries, area & investments.
In order to take environment clearance – there is one application form which needs to filled up and submitted with relevant attachments ( about 500 pages).
Usually within one months time- about 50 to 60 observations are sent. Once clarification is submitted, applicant is asked to give presentation of the project to the SEAC members. They normally point 5-6 points. Again after 3 months, next presentation is held giving clarifications to members queries. So by now 6 months are gone.
In case SEAC approves this, matter is referred to SEIAA.
SEIAA again asks applicants to give presentation. They will also have few queries. So applicant is asked to come again with replies and make one more presentation. So by now another six months are over.
Thus under normal circumstances, when everything is in order, it take 12-14 months to get EC at state level.
In case if this is required to be cleared by Govt, add another six months Time.
By
Deepak Singh
9971119822