Mines, power projects get tough eco clearance norms

Ensuring strict compliance to the implementation of environment clearance norms for power, mines, oil and gas exploration projects, the government plans to make projects subject to checks by independent auditors to ensure they are complying with environmental conditions and prevent various bottlenecks including public protests. The government-approved auditors will conduct randomized, third-party compliance, claimed environment ministry sources, adding that this will be done by the environment ministry introducing a new rule in Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006, which will allow it to empanel agencies for carrying out such studies. Notwithstanding the above provisions, the ministry will empanel government institutions of national repute for carrying out compliance monitoring of environment clearance conditions of projects and activities. The compliance monitoring will be done against the baseline information available in the Environmental Impact Assessment report, Environmental Management Plan appraised by EAC (Environmental Audit Committee), terms and conditions of the environmental clearance as well as other provisions that will be specified by the ministry from time to time. Any project categorized as A, B1 or B2—graded thus as per industry and size of project — requires environmental clearance. Based on recommendations of expert committees at central, state and district levels, prior clearance is given along with stipulations on environmental mitigation measures and under the provision every firm or project proponent is required to file six monthly compliance reports. As a matter of fact, currently there are no safeguards to check whether these environmental clearance conditions are being adhered to on ground, claimed ministry sources.