The Environment Clearance Rush
Environment ministry clears projects, even those rejected earlier, at an unprecedented rate and as per this analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the rate of granting clearances has increased by 42 per cent compared to last year.
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- Policy: Draft policy on inspection, verification, monitoring and the overall procedure relating to the grant of forest clearances.
- Report: Status of environment & forests clearances in various sectors
- Report: Environmental and Forest Clearance accorded from 13.07.2011 to 12.07.2012
- In-Parliament: Environment clearances to projects
- Report: Anil Agarwal Dialogue on Green Clearances
- Study: System of green clearances not working for environment and people and clearances not the impediment to growth, says CSE’s new study
- Document: Terms of reference for EIA report for projects requiring environmental clearance
- Report: Report of high powered committee on statutory clearances
Public Hearing
Latest News from Down To Earth
Green tribunal decides to evaluate Nirma cement plant site afresh
Says project needs to be reassessed in view of conflicting reports of experts
After a lull for nearly a year, Nirma's cement plant in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, is back in the spotlight. The National Green Tribunal has decided to re-evaluate the project by sending expert members for site inspection. On February 8, the tribunal bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, observed there is little doubt that the project will adversely affect the environment.
Ash flies in the face of power plan
ODISHA is set to become a powerhouse of the country. Over the past seven years, the state has signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with public and private firms to produce 50,000 MW thermal power. The state is proud of this achievement, but experts are concerned over an environmental threat—fly ash, the notorious waste product of coal-fired plants, known to ruin agricultural land.
Odisha may witness production of about 100 million tonnes fly ash annually if all the thermal power projects become operational.
Government Policies and Action Plans
Industrial policy of Maharashtra 2013
Read text of the new industrial policy for Maharashtra cleared by the state cabinet. It focuses on less developed region of the state to bring them on par with mainstream industrial development.
Environmental impact assessment guidance manual for nuclear power plants
The existing Environmental Impact Assessment manual of MoEF is common for all the sectors requiring prior environmental clearance. Considering the diversity in all the sectors related to infrastructure and industrial development, MoEF launched a programme for development of sector specific EIA guidance manual. The EIA guidance manual will help the project proponent
EIAs and Public Hearings
Executive Summary of Draft EIA of Proposed Integrated Cement Project (Clinker: 3.5 MTPA; Cement: 5.0 MTPA; Coal Washery: 1.0 MTPA) of Ultratech Cement Ltd, Chhattisgarh
M/s Ultratech Cement Limited (UTCL) is proposing Integrated Cement Project Clinker (3.5 MTPA), Cement (5.0 MTPA) Captive Power Plant from (CPP) (50 MW) & Coal Washery (1-MTPA) near Villages Sarkipar, Piprahi & Simradih, Tehsil Baloda Bazar, District-Baloda Bazar (Chhattisgarh).As per EIA Notification dated 14th September 2006 as amended on 01.12.2009, this Proposed Integrated Cement Project falls in Category ‘A’ and therefore this project requires Environmental Clearance from MoEF, New Delhi.
Environmental impact assessment report 4 X 700 MW PHWR Harayana Atomic Power Project (HAPP) at Gorakhpur, Harayana
A public hearing for granting environment clearance to the upcoming 4 X 700 MW Haryana Atomic Power Project will be held at Gorakhpur in Haryana on July 17, 2012. Read and share this EIA report of the project.
Lanco public hearing rigged
Farmers accuse power company of registering bogus speakers, question timing of public hearing with sowing season. The fresh public hearing for Lanco Infratech Limited’s 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant in Mandwa village of Maharashtra’s Wardha district was marked by utter chaos.The hearing, held under heavy police bandobast, started with drama. The first 50 speakers–residents of affected villages, Mandwa, Belgaon and Pullali—praised Lanco for its corporate social responsibility. They also expressed their support for the upcoming plant.
Industry In-Court
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Companies Bill, 2011: Standing Committee on Finance (2011-12)
The Standing Committee on Finance present this Fifty-seventh Report on the Companies Bill, 2011. The Companies Bill, 2011 introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 December, 2011, was referred to the Committee on 5 January, 2012 for examination and report thereon, by the Speaker, Lok Sabha under rule 331E of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. The Standing Committee on Finance had earlier examined the Companies Bill, 2009 and presented report on the same in the Parliament on 31 August, 2010.
Corporate Responsibility Survey 2011
About one third (31) of the top 100 companies in India report on corporate responsibility (CR) performance and 52 percent of these reporters provide reference to their sustainability strategy, KPMG has found in a survey. The survey included the top 100 listed companies in India by revenue. KPMG examined information disclosed publicly by these companies to discern emerging trends in corporate responsibility reporting.
Performance audit: Corporate Social Responsibility of Coal India Limited
A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the performance audit of the activities of Corporate Social Responsibility by Coal India Ltd (CIL) during April 2004 to March 2010 in areas like environmental protection, safety requirement, occupational health of the workers and community development shows low allocation of funds and even failure to utilise those meagre funds.
Books
The state of India's environment: the sixth citizens' report - rich lands poor people: is 'sustainable' mining possible?
This book is an attempt to document all the complexities of mining. While, it is true that mining is essential, it is not a simple 'dig and sell' proposition for a country like India. Its challenges are immense.
Challenge of the new balance
The new CSE study of the six most emissions intensive sectors to determine India
Mega meet on green clearances
Ramesh Gauns, Goa, speaks on mining and mineral based industries at the Anil Agarwal Dialogues on green clearances organised by CSE at New Delhi on the 24th and 25th of February, 2012
Enviornment Education
This website is an online environmental resource for kids to find ideas, information, and inspiration to go green
Kidsgreen, a children’s website developed by the Centre for Environment Education, India (CEE).
