Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar launched a web portal for online submission of applications for environment clearance by State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities for Category ‘B’ projects.
The portal has been launched across the country. 19 states i.e. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Manipur and Punjab joined it instantly.
Javadekar said, “Online submission of applications will ensure that monitoring is carried out more effectively and on a real time basis and thus, status on the pendency is available clearly. It will also speed up clearance processes, while maintaining the rigours of environment clearance process.” “Online processes have raised the levels of transparency and accountability.”
Last year, the Ministry had launched the online application system for environmental clearance for Category Á’ projects.
While applications for Category Á’ projects come to the Ministry for approval, applications under Category ‘B’ projects do not come to the Ministry and are dealt with at the State level itself. Based on the experiences of increased transparency, expeditious disposal without compromising upon the rigour of Environment Clearance, the process has encouraged the Ministry to go in for a similar system at the State level.
