The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide its notification dated 7th May 2020 has extended the notice period for draft Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 2020 till 30th June 2020.
The draft notification was published on 11th April 2020 which relates to change in environmental clearance process for infrastructure projects in the country and it provides for a reduction of the time period from 30 days to 20 days for the public to submit their responses during a public hearing for any application seeking environmental clearance.
Through the draft notification, the central government gets the power to categorize projects as “strategic.”Once a project is considered as strategic, the draft notification states that no information related to such projects shall be placed in the public domain.
Since the Ministry has been receiving several representations for extending the notice period for expressing concern as the draft EIA Notification 2020 was published during the lockdown imposed due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. The initial Notice period was 60 days from date of notification. The Ministry, after due consideration, deems it fit to extend the notice period up to 30th June 2020.
Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposals contained in the draft notification may forward the same in writing for consideration of the Central Government before 30th June 2020 to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi-110003, or send the same on the e-mail to address: eia2020-moefcc@gov.in.
Click here to read the Notification.
