Bhubaneswar: A total 16 infrastructure projects in Odisha are pending with ministry of environment, forest and climate change for environmental clearance, Centre told the Rajya Sabha today.
Replying to an unstarred question of BJD MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj and Niranjan Bishi, Union Forest and Environemtn Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said “As of June 2023, total 16 proposals regarding infrastructure projects in Odisha are under different stages of consideration with the Ministry and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Odisha, for grant of Environmental Clearance (EC).”
He further stated that `Railway’ as defined in Railways Act, 1989 does not attract EIA Notification, 2006 as amended. Therefore, the question of ambiguity regarding the term ‘Right of Way’ (RoW) for the purpose of EC for execution of Railway works does not arise. However, diversion of forest land shall attract forest clearance as per provision of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 as amended, if applicable.
The Odisha MPs questioned whether there is an ambiguity among States/UTs regarding the interpretation of the term `Right of Way’ mentioned in Government guidelines for environmental clearance for the execution of railway works. If so, they sought the details of the steps taken by the Government to pave the way for the corporate bodies/public-private partnerships to execute infrastructure projects in forest areas without seeking permission from Government?
Comments are closed.