The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has imposed standard environment clearance (EC) conditions for 25 major sectors to bring in ‘uniformity’. The 25 sectors include iron, steel, cement, coal, petroleum refineries, paper and pulp industries, hydro-electric projects, industrial estates, among others.
The Ministry has prepared standard conditions for 25 sectors, in order to bring uniformity on stipulated terms and conditions across the projects and sectors and as a general guidance to EAC as well as project proponents. The government has constituted green panel called Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) which assesses the projects and makes recommendations, based on which the Environment Ministry grants the final EC.
The standard EC conditions will have to be considered by EAC at the time of appraisal of the proposals. EAC after due diligence, can modify, delete and add conditions based on the project specific requirements.