Construction gets easier environmental norms

Injecting a much needed booster to the construction sector, the government has eased environmental clearances norms for buildings and allied construction activities with the concerned ministry doubling the threshold for construction projects requiring environmental clearances from the Centre to 50,000 square metres of built-up area from 20,000 sq metres. With easier norms in place, the developers of an average sized mall with three floors or an apartment complex with 300 three-bedroom flats would be able to start construction with online submission of a self-certification that all environmental obligations would be met. A developer would fill a form online to the local authority and then a building permit would be issued for construction. So far, this was followed by all projects with less than 20,000 sqm of built-up area. Commenting on the changed norms experts, said that in principle it is a good move as it eases the clearances, but on the ground it could mean dubious projects getting a go-ahead as the cities have not included environmental guidelines in their building permit system, said program manager, Sustainable Cities, Avikal Somvanshi, adding that this requires a change in building bye-laws which no city has brought about in India. In the changed scenario, Centre would shift its responsibility to the cities, which are currently lacking in taking over the responsibility.