The Ministry of Environment
and Forests has accorded Environmental Clearance for 22 investment
projects besides approving 40 proposals for Forest Clearance during
the last month. Eight industrial, two mining, two river valley
and 10 Infrastructure and Miscellaneous projects were approved
by the Ministry. These include augmentation of Viramgam – Koyali
and Salaya – Mathura Pipeline System running through Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana by the Indian Oil Corporation
Limited and Gas/Hydrocarbon Pipeline by M/s Gas Transportation
and Infrastructure Company Limited, Barsingar Opencast Lignite
Mining Project by Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Extension of Left
and Right Canal System of Upper Indravati Irrigation Project by
the Orissa Government, Yamuna Water Irrigation Project of the
Rajasthan Government, Installation of SPV Power Plants in Lakshadweep,
Establishment of Ayurvedic SPA at Vizhinjam village in Thiruvananthapuram
district of Kerala etc.
Forty proposals for
Forest Clearance under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1990 were approved
involving diversion of 6908 hectares of forest land. This include
diversion of 6145 hectares of forest land in Maharashtra for conversion
of 73 forest villages into revenue villages, regularisation and
rehabilitation.
With this the Ministry
of Environment and Forests has accorded Environmental Clearance
for 158 Investment Projects besides 724 Forest Clearances during
the year 2002. Six proposals for Environmental Clearance and 89
proposals for Forest Clearance were rejected by the Ministry.
