General approval for border roads and defence projects:MoEF

New Delhi, 12 June, 2014

Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar has said that a Policy Framework is being prepared by the Ministry through which approval would be given for the border roads and defence projects in the areas up to 100 kms from Line of Actual Control (LAC) without hampering the environmental conservation in a fast track mode. This was stated by the Minister while addressing the press during his visit to Paryavaran Bhawan. Earlier, the Minister had a meeting with the Defence Secretary and other senior officials from the Environment Ministry.

Elaborating further, the Minister said that the move was intended to reduce the delays caused by the process of environmental clearances particularly for the defence projects. It was an effort intended to make simpler, transparent & predictable process for environmental clearances. Going forward, Ministry would take decisions rooted in the Policy framework rather than making Case by Case decisions. The details of the policy framework would be worked out soon and the document would be put in the public space, the Minister added.