Portal for forest clearance proposals


After launching online environmental clearances a month ago, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday launched a web portal for online submission and monitoring of forest clearance proposals.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Javadekar said that grant of “a general approval” for setting up strategic and other installations within 100 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the border areas with China was under consideration and an official decision would be taken soon. The Minister said there was no need to amend the Forest Conservation Act, which expressly prohibits diversion of forests for non-forest use without prior approval of the Central government.
Forest officials said a general approval meant that States could approve forest clearances in these specific areas which in the past had to be sent to the Centre but the conditions for clearance remain.
Mr. Javadekar said that to simplify clearances, his Ministry was granting a general approval for projects in certain critical areas such as roads and power transmission lines of all kinds. The MoEF has also granted general approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of up to five hectares of forest land for construction of all categories of public roads by government departments in 117 districts affected by Maoist extremism.
In the border areas, clearances for 6000 km of roads were pending and for years the files were stuck in the Ministry. The decision for general approval was taken in the interests of security and on the border areas with China and Pakistan it was important to have quick clearances for infrastructure building.
Accordingly, States can now grant approvals for diversion of forest land to construct and widen two-lane roads by the Border Roads Organisation and other agencies in the area falling within 100 km aerial distance from the LAC. Mr. Javadekar said the creation of a good road network along the LAC would help guard international borders more effectively. A similar general approval for diversion of forest land required for setting up of army stations, ammunition depots, training centres and other support infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and residential quarters within 100 km aerial distance from the LAC was under the active consideration of the Ministry.
The web portal (www.forestsclearance.nic.in) would facilitate real-time monitoring to ensure that stipulated time-lines are adhered to.

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