Environment ministry likely to amend green norms
New Delhi: The environment ministry will soon decide on a second set of major reforms in the green norms meant for SEZs, roads and the real estate sector, especially multi-storey buildings.
Following strong pressure from industry lobbies as well as pressure from within the government to have a more “industry-friendly” green norms, the ministry had formed a committee on easing green regulations for clearances effecting these specific industries and sectors. The committee has already submitted a report which will be checked by the environment ministry in a few days.
It is likely that some of the major green issues troubling the mining industry would be resolved in a couple of days, with the Supreme Court expected to decide the fate of Vedanta’s bauxite mining in Odisha and the Karnataka iron ore mining case. The ministry is also expected to tackle the Goa iron ore mining cases.
The ministry has directed the panel to check the requirement of environmental clearance for highway expansion projects, multi-storey buildings and others. It has also told the committee to assess if these projects are required a clearance from the central government at all or if they could get approval from state authorities.
Amendment of norms for multi-storey buildings and the Goa mining cases are considered to be important for those holding stakes in Maharashtra. The Karnataka mining case is likely to affect both political and financial health of mining barons in the state.
In the Vedanta case, the UPA government, at first, came down hard on the mining giant in Odisha for violating tribal rights under its flagship Forest Rights Act and other green laws. But instead of citing this reason of violation of norms, the government gave religious reasons while defending its decision to block Vedanta’s mining in Odisha.
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Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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