On 10 May 2016, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a draft Notification proposing a mechanism to deal with projects that have commenced activities before obtaining an environmental clearance [Draft Notification].

In October 2015, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released a Draft Environment Laws (Amendment) Bill 2015 proposing amendments to the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.

The recent uproar about the toxic levels of pollution in the country’s national capital region has once again brought to fore the failure of the regulatory and legal mechanisms in India to control air pollution.

Almost every other day in some part of India, a Public Hearing is held for obtaining the views of local people on proposed projects whether it is mining, dams, highways, thermal power plants etc. People generally participate with the genuine hope that their views will be considered by the decision makers.