NDA reduced time taken for obtaining environmental clearance from 600 to 190 days: Javadekar

Pune: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday said the NDA government has brought down to 190 days the time taken for obtaining environmental clearance for projects, from the 600 days that it took during the UPA rule. [caption id=“attachment_2673074” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prakash Javadekar. PTI[/caption] He said the Centre’s aim is to further reduce this period to 100 days. “During the UPA government, the average period for environment clearance was 600 days. However, my ministry has now removed the delay and reduced the period to 190 days. The government wants to further reduce it to 100 days,” the Environment Minister said in a press conference in Pune. Claiming that Modi Government has approved hundreds of development projects in the last 21 months by striking a balance between environment protection and development, Javadekar said, “We will not just provide ease of doing business as usual, but we will provide ease of doing responsible business without any delay and that is our assurance.” While listing out the key projects in Maharashtra, which have got approvals of his ministry, Javadekar said, “Mumbai Coastal Road project, which was pending for years, has been cleared and will help reduce the pollution of Mumbai and will give boost to the public transport.” “Then, the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial in the Arabian Sea. It was promised by the UPA but it could not deliver it. The project has received a nod from our ministry,” he said. Javadekar added that projects like Sewri-Nhava Sheva Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, many coal mining projects, sewage treatment project for Mula-Mutha river in Pune, two laning of JNPT freight railway and many road projects in the state have received clearances from the ministry. “The government is committed for environmental safety and sustainable development by providing adequate safeguards,” Javadekar said. PTI