MoEF
Ministry of Environment and Forest
MoEF is a nodal agency at the central government level which functions as a planning, coordination and implementation body of India,s environment and forest policies and programmes in the country. Its task is to protect and conserve the environment while drawing suitable policies and programmes with its autonomous and subordinate organizations under moef. MoEF is also a clearing arm for projects from environment and forestry angle, for the purpose, there are 10 such thematic groupings (sectoral) and around 8-10 committees formed to look at sectoral projects, mining projects and coal mining are dealt by two different committees. The committees primary role is to perform screening, scoping and appraisal of project proposals for the purpose of prior environment clearance as enshrined under the EIA notification 2006
MoEF issued under Environment Protection Act, 1986. Since minerals have broad categories i.e. major and minor minerals; fuel and non-fuel minerals, metallic and non-metallic minerals, those which satisfy the area classification under 2006 notification go through environment clearance process. Certain projects which are categorized as Category B go through a similar process of screening, scoping and appraisal at the state level by authority constituted by the Central government and is called State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and will have State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC). The decisions of the Impact Assessment Division and the SEIAA are based on the recommendations of EAC / SEAC, thus their role becomes important and demands transparent and fair assessment of proposals from environment, forestry and wildlife angle to meet its goals and functions awarded to it for delivering its decision. Although MoEF deals largely with environment, forests and wildlife, the specific focus of public participation in decision making comes at a much later stage i.e. before the final appraisal of project which is left to the respective proponent and the state / district administration. Even though there is no proactive space for engagement with communities from the inception of project, the only opportunity i.e. public hearing and its quality thus becomes extremely important in order to have an objective appraisal at the central and state level.
To check environment clearance go to http://environmentclearance.nic.in/. You will find;
- Environment Clearance Status Query form where you can check state wise category of projects at different stages.
- Minutes of Meeting of EAC of all committees
- Meeting Schedules & Agenda
MoEF issues orders and notifications pertaining to EC process from time to time and are available on the website. Explore more about MoEF at www.moef.gov.in/en/
For Various divisions of MoEF; http://envfor.nic.in/modules/about-the-ministry/divisions/
Ministry of Environment and Forests Order Dated 20.03.2012
Ministry of Environment and Forests Order Dated 20.03.2012 about submission of project documents and information for obtaining environment clearance in electronic format along with. hard copy -compliance of the order of Central Information Commission dated 18.I.2012 – Regarding.
Attachments:
Ministry of Environment and Forests Order Dated 20.03.2012 |
Environment Clearance not required for mining lease renewal (march 2013) |
Prior EC required for renewal (December 2012) |