NEW DELHI,
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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