MoEF Reject GoM Proposal On Multiple FACs
Author:
First published in Sanctuary Asia,
Vol. 32
No. 5,
May 2012
The GoM on coal and mining issues headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had asked the environment ministry to set up an FAC each for a sector. It would have meant a committee to consider mining projects and another for power sector projects.
The new format, if accepted, would have meant forest clearance on lines similar to environmental clearance, where approval is given by sectoral Expert Appraisal Committees (EAC).
The ministry has, however, not accepted the proposal and GoM will be informed about the decision on Wednesday.
According to a senior ministry functionary, the single FAC is doing it work efficiently and no projects are pending with it. “There is no need for sectoral FACs as of now," the functionary told HT. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
