New Delhi: The Road Transport Ministry today
said seven different National Highways projects are awaiting
clearance from the Environment Ministry.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State
for Road Transport & Highways R P N Singh said, "At present
five projects are pending for forest clearance and two for
wildlife clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest
(MoEF)."
He was responding to a query on whether it was a fact
that a large number of National Highway projects have hit a
barrier with the Environment Ministry not giving them
clearance.
The minister, however, did not give details about the
projects facing the bottleneck.
Singh said the government is taking measures for smooth
implementation of the seven projects.
"Meetings have been held at the level of Cabinet
Secretary and Secretary, MoEF for resolving the bottlenecks,"
he added.
Replying to a separate question, Singh said NHAI has
awarded 38 different projects of worth Rs 33,311.20 crore in
2009-10 covering 3,360.15 km.
"Planning Commission had suggested to set the target for
award of the projects to 4,250 km for 2009-10. However, the
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways had undertaken
implementation of the Work Plan-I to the maximum extent
possible within 2009-10 and to continue the balance work
during 2010-11," he added.
While the government received bids for 21 projects out of
Work Plan-I covering 1,568 km, further bids for 20 projects
with 1,991 km have already been invited, Singh said.
PTI
