Mumbai:
The government has made environmental clearance mandatory
for setting up special economic zones (SEZ).
Establishing
SEZs now requires prior environmental clearances as per
the provisions of the environment impact assessment notification,
2006, minister of state for forests and environment Namo
Narain Meena said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
"Accordingly,
the project authorities are required to undertake an environment
impact assessment (EIA) study based on which the proposal
is considered for environment clearance," Meena said.
Denying
that coastal regulation zones are being constantly violated
in states like Goa the minister said his ministry has
constituted a Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority for
monitoring and enforcing the provisions of the coastal
regulation zone notification 1991 and the approved coastal
zone management plan of Goa.
Meena
said his ministry is implementing the national afforestation
programme (NAP) scheme through decentralised a set up
of the forest development authority at the division level
and joint forest management committees at the village
level, for regeneration and improvement
of forests and adjoining lands.
No
study has, however, been undertaken so far about the impact
of SEZs on environment, Meena informed the house.
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