The court had pulled up the MoEF for issuing the order following a faulty procedure

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) , which had suspended the environment clearance for Posco's proposed steel plant near Paradip in March last year, will take up final hearing on the matter on August 12.

While the government has allocated 14 of the 17 coal blocks for auction last week to public sector units, a Greenpeace India report points out that at least eight of them are in dense forest areas with tribal villages, endangered species, rivers and other water bodies.

According to the report, the 14 coal blocks could impact 4,200 hectares of forest, including 2,200 hectares of dense forest. Besides affecting 17 villages, this will have an adverse effect on elephants, tigers and leopards in nine blocks.

Over the past decade, builders have complained that procuring environmental clearances for their projects is one of the biggest rackets.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has indicated the need for proper management of environmental regulations for the growing wind power sector in the country.

Central Circular Doesn’t Specify Action If Deadlines Aren’t Met

The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) wants environmental approvals for building and real estate projects to be granted within three-and-a-half months of the plans being submitted to the state bodies responsible for clearing them. All projects involving built-up area of 20,000 square metres or more require green clearance.

In a move that is expected to help ease the supply of brick earth and ordinary earth, the environment ministry (MoEF) has relaxed its stringent 2012 norms on mining of minor minerals by exempting t

Environment clearance has been granted to 2,000 mining projects across the state in the past three months, said environment secretary ValsaNair-Singh.