During the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, environment clearance was granted to 20 infrastructure projects/activities, wholly or partly, in a Protected Area or Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)/Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA), the Centre told the Rajya Sabha.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh, in reply to a query, said on Thursday that the existing provisions prescribe project-specific environmental safeguards as part of the environmental clearance conditions to avoid, minimise and mitigate adverse environmental impacts.
The safeguards include measures relating to wildlife protection, habitat conservation, pollution control, compensatory plantation and environmental monitoring, he added.
These also include scientific appraisal process and scrutiny at the approval stage, ensuring that adequate safeguards are incorporated for the protection of ecologically sensitive landscapes, he said.
Kirti Vardhan Singh added that proposals requiring Wildlife Clearance for projects located within Protected Areas or Eco-Sensitive Zones or Forest areas are scrutinised through a multi-tiered mechanism involving the State Chief Wildlife Warden and the State Board for Wildlife.
"Thereafter, the cases are scrutinised by the Ministry and the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL), which examines the ecological sensitivity of the area, cumulative and specific impacts on wildlife habitats and corridors, and the proposed mitigation measures on a case-to-case basis," he said.
The proposals for Wildlife Clearance are recommended by SCNBWL only after due consideration of the impacts, mitigation measures and incorporating appropriate safeguards, he added.
The Minister of State said that proposals are granted Environmental Clearance after due consideration of the environmental impacts and incorporation of project-specific environmental safeguards, including mitigation measures prescribed in the Environmental Management Plan.
No construction or other project-related activities can be commenced by the Project Proponents unless Wildlife Clearance is obtained under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, he added.
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