As if the delay in securing permissions from the civic body is not gruelling enough for them, getting the environmental clearance for projects is the proverbial last straw for those from the realty

PANJIM: The mining companies have challenged Goa State Pollution Control Board’s (GSPCB) authority to question them on the excess ore production and Environment Clearance (EC) certificates issue, claiming that it is for the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to take a stand on these aspects.

GSPCB is currently hearing defence of 48 mining companies, regarding the authenticity of documentation for ECs, issued by MoEF. The hearings, which begun last week, were held following High Court order in a petition filed by Goa Foundation.

New Delhi Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan may have objected to the creation of a National Investment Board (NIB) for its potential to undermine her ministry, but the finance ministry has no doubt that the biggest hurdle to investors right now is posed by Natarajan’s ministry.

In an internal note meant to be a precursor to a full-fledged Cabinet note prepared before Natarajan wrote to the Prime Minister against the idea of NIB, the finance ministry’s department of economic affairs had cited environment clearance (EC) and forest clearance (FC) as “best-known examples” of regulations impeding decision-making process.

The wood panelled office in Delhi's Paryavaran Bhawan is now a 'no-go' zone.

An online campaign is on by green activists opposing the proposed National Investment Board (NIB) for fast-tracking environmental and other clearances for large infrastructure projects.

New Delhi Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan’s claim of awarding clearances to projects which will double coal production in the country may not hold true completely as many projects are awaiting environment and forest clearances from her ministry.

Natajaran’s recent letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing the setting up of a National Investment Board said that environmental clearances had been granted to 181 coal mines with a total capacity of 83 million tonnes per annum during the 11th Plan period up to August 2011 — doubling India’s current capacity. In addition, 113 coal mines had been granted permission to divert 26,000 hectares of forest land for industrial use.

India's ambitious plans to build thousands of kilometers of roads each year have hit a roadblock, with construction companies short of cash and banks becoming increasingly reluctant to lend because

“Any agreement in violation of statute or law is void,” says Bench

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Union government to explain whether an agreement with Russia to waive civil liability in case of an accident at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant would have an impact on the exchequer. “Any agreement in violation of the statute or law is void,” said a Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra hearing a batch of petitions filed by anti-nuclear activists for a stay on the commissioning of the plant.