Relaxation for environmental clearances for highway projects sparks debate https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/relaxation-for-environmental-clearances-for-highway-projects-sparks-debate-101658142896170.html Jul 18, 2022
The Union environment ministry on July 14 issued its final notification amending the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006, which introduces exemption for highway projects, etc.
All highway projects up to 100 km from the Line of Control, the international border with Pakistan, are now exempted from obtaining prior environmental clearances, and the agency executing such projects will only have to ensure self-compliance of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) notified by the Centre from time to time, a government notification has stated.
This essentially means some high altitude stretches of the Char Dham road project in Uttarakhand, other highway projects in the western and eastern Himalayas and several parts of northeast India will be exempted from environmental appraisals.
“The acceptance of these proposals is to bring environment regulations to relinquish its oversight for specific infrastructure projects that have been prioritised by the central government’s infrastructure expansions.
Ravi Chopra, chairman of the HPC set up by the Supreme court to oversee the widening of roads under the Char Dham Pariyojana, resigned in January.
In his resignation letter dated January 27, Ravi claimed that the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) ignored the panel’s recommendations regarding the width of the roads. Chopra also highlighted the importance of protecting the Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive zone