New Delhi: All state governments and Union territories have been directed to start issuing environment clearances online before October, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at the state environment and forest ministers' conference which concluded Tuesday.
While online procedure is already in place for attaining environment, forest and wildlife clearances from the central government, the states and UTs have been asked to follow suit.
In states, environment approvals are issued by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Environment Assessment Committee (SEAC).
"The states have been asked to start online submission of environment clearances from SEIAA and SEAC to bring transparency in the process. They have given consent in the matter," said Javadekar.
A two-day conference of chief ministers, environment ministers and forest officials today concluded brainstorming on giving final shape to various environment laws and strict compliance of green norms. The conference was attended by 30 ministers and over 400 forest officials.
Giving details of the resolutions passed in the conference, Javadekar said the states would have to clear the backlog of forest clearances by the end of June. They have been asked to complete delineation of eco-sensitive zones by 30 June.
Seven states along the Western Ghats have been asked to submit their final reports by April 15 on demarcation of ecologically-sensitive areas in their respective areas as suggested by the K Kasturirangan Committee report.
"All states have agreed to give their suggestion by April 15 because after that the eco-sensitive zone will be declared. So, we want input from the states and we have asked them to do ground survey which includes going to each village and taking opinion of the people in terms of development they want," the Minister said.
The states with tiger ranges will constitute state level steering committee and prepare Tiger Conservation Plans including voluntary village relocation from core and critical tiger habitats.
Among other resolutions passed in the conference are the steps to constitute state, district and cluster level committees as per Green India Mission guidelines within three months and identify landscapes based on bio-geophysical and socio-economic parameters.
A comprehensive amendment in the Indian Forest Act, 1927 is also likely to be prepared by the Ministry for effective implementation of the law after considering the suggestions proposed by the states.
The states will also put in place a transparent and effective mechanism for access to biological resources in their regions. State Forest Departments will assess the animal population of various species to consider the option of their population management. The government has also asked them to consider declaring at least one Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2015-16.
Under another resolution adopted by the states, they will have to prepare a shelf of projects on climate change for National Adaptation Fund, a government fund to take necessary measures to tackle climate change. At least one such project worth Rs 10 crore will have to be submitted for NAF.
The states will submit minimum one climate change plan in this financial year for submission to the United Nation's Green Climate Fund, for which the ministry has coordinated with various expert agencies and suggested them to take guidance from countries like Germany, Switzerland and the UK.
