CII urges Centre to expedite EIA process

Kolkata, Dec 15 (UNI) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the Centre to expedite the environment clearance process for various industrial projects.

In a recent notification, the Union Government had given interim operational guidelines to companies seeking Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

Addressing a workshop on ''Reingineered Process of Environment Clearance,'' CII Principal Advisor K P Nyati told mediapersons today that the reingineered EIA, which had been notified on September 14, would delay the environment clearances.

''The Environment and Forest Ministry will atleast take 10 months to give the clearance to companies. The whole process have become cumbersome and the new projects would be delayed in a globally competitive scenario, '' he said.

Most of the projects would be sent to Delhi for public hearing be it expansion, modernisation or new projects, he said.

To make the EIA process transparent and speedy, the Centre had appointed Govindarajan Committee. The new guidelines are based on the recommendations of the Committee's report, he said adding the purpose of expediting the EIA process, however, would not be acheived.

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