GoM sets up panel to examine green clearance norms

With consensus on the vexed issue of go and no-go for coal-bearing areas remaining elusive,the Group of Ministers has recommended setting up of a high-powered committee.

With consensus on the vexed issue of go and no-go for coal-bearing areas remaining elusive,the Group of Ministers (GoM) has recommended setting up of a high-powered committee to ascertain efficacy and legality of the existing forest clearance (FC) norms and recommend suitable solutions within six weeks.

In its meeting on June 9,the GoM recommended that a committee under Planning Commission member Bal Krishna Chaturvedi be set up to examine the efficacy and legality of existing FC norms and procedures. The committee,which has been asked to submit its report within six weeks,would also examine the issue of granting environmental clearance (EC) for projects located in areas with Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI) and also the steps taken to ensure that better quality of forests are regenerated in a time-bound manner after mining operations, a top official told The Indian Express.

The GoM also asked Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to come up with eight projects identified by a Prime Ministers Office-appointed committee and also additional projects pending with his ministry for its consideration in the next meeting on July 2.

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The PMO top brass had recently suggested that at least eight power projects involving as many coal blocks could be considered for forest clearance implying that these blocks having an annual production capacity of 70 MT could be bailed out into the no-go areas.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia,who was present at the meeting,asked the GoM for taking a consolidated overall view on the inter-ministerial problems on the no-go issue,which he argued was imperative to ensure 250 million tonne of coal production by the terminal year of 12th Plan period. Montek suggested that both coal and environment ministries should put forth a joint mechanism for fast-tracking of coal projects,while demanding more flexibility in CEPI norms, the official said. However,Ramesh said wherever compromise was possible his ministry would walk an extra mile. But in cases where a compromise couldnt be reached,the matter would be referred to the GoM,whose comments would be appended and forwarded to the Union Cabinet for a decision.

Power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde expressed his concern over Coal Indias unwillingness to sign Fuel Supply Agreements,which,according to him,was making power projects unfinanceable.

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