No delay in clearing SEIAA in Meghalaya, SEIAA

Shillong, Mar 20 (UNI) Minister in-charge of Forest and Environment Martle N.Mukhim today refuted allegations that clearance of major projects in Meghalaya had been delayed because the State Environment Impact Assement Authority (SEIAA) had not been notified.

Mr Mukhim was replying to a calling attention Motion in the assembly tabled by Independent MLA P.M.Syiem regarding setting up of the SEIAA as reported in a section of the press here recently.

He also assured the House that necessary steps would be taken so that the prescribed mechanism for environmental clearance of projects and activities is set up without further delay.

''In fact the government of India has already anticipated such a contigency and provided that any activity requiring Environment Impact Assessment appraisal of clearance by the SEIAA will be processed or evaluated by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest till such time as the SEIAA for the state is notified,'' the Minister told the House.

According to the notification issued last year, Mr Mukhim said all new projects or expansion and/or modernization of existing ones listed in the schedule shall be undertaken only with the prior environmental clearance from the Centre in respect of projects under category 'A' and from the state environment Impact Assessment in respect of projects under Category 'B''.

He assured the House that all necessary steps would be taken so that the prescribed mechanism for Environmental clearance of projects and activities is set up without further delay.

UNI