Development hazard

  • 21/09/2008

  • Business India (Mumbai)

Short-staffed forest & environment ministry delays clearances The ministry of environments and forests (MoEF) is currently being run by two ministers of state, Sevu-gun Regupathy and Namo Narain Meena. Ever since the dmk's A. Raja replaced Dayanidhi Maran as the telecom and it minister, it has had no full-fledged Cabinet-rank minister. Technically, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh holds temporary charge of the MoEF. This implies that the pmo must be keeping track of the ministry and its functioning. The role of the MoEF in clearing major industrial projects which have an impact on environment and its powers overriding the developmental needs of the states have always been the subject of controversy. Sometime back, the controversy had deepened in the wake of insinuations about ulterior motives in blocking the clearance of files relating to certain projects and how a particular party was keen on this portfolio, which on the face of it, was considered 'non-lucrative.' The pmo would do well now to look into reports that have been appearing of late that the MoEF, though politically headless, is facing an acute shortage of staff for scrutinising environment-related data furnished by companies that have serious investment proposals in hand. This is leading to delay in execution of several mining projects. Companies such as Sesa Goa, Tata Chemicals, Hindalco Industries and Tata Steel are awaiting environmental clearance for their projects for two years. It would also be instructive for Manmohan to find out how the ministry of mines, headed by his colleague, Sis Ram Ola, is reacting to these delays by the MoEF. Apparently, the ministry of mines has taken up the matter with the MoEF in a very cursory manner with Ola yet to step into the matter. That is not all. Power ministry officials say that at least 30 thermal power projects, with a combined generation capacity of 22,000 mw have been held up because of delays in environmental clearances. Power sector analysts have put the blame of efficiency issues, saying MoEF is actually short-staffed. Earlier this year, a power sector review panel had held that "a long time was being taken for forest and environment clearances and there was a need to shorten the timeframe for grant of clearances." Environmental impact All mining proposals are submitted to either of MoEF's two appraisal committees on the mining sector. The committee provides terms of reference (ToR) to the applicant who conducts an environmental impact assessment (eia) study on the basis of the ToR. The details are put on public notice. This is followed by a public hearing by the state government where the project is located. Finally,the eia report, along with minutes of the public hearing, is submitted to the MoEF, based on which the environmental clearance is awarded. The MoEF, however, refutes the claim. Officials say delay is due to ill-prepared eia reports by the companies. Consultants who prepare eia reports for project 1 developers treat these as a formality. They often miss including vital details including clearance letter from chief wildlife warden or data on occupational health hazards in the report The MoEF also claims that committees' emphasis is on obtaining adequate information rather than on speedy clearance of the project. However, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi) is not satisfied with this explanation. It is planning to take up the issue with MoEF. "Many mining projects get delayed due to the long wait for environment and forest clearances, and this needs to be streamlined," Fimi president Rahul Baldota said. Mining company officials says MoEF does not have adequate capacity and workforce to handle the eia reports flow. "If a project is placed before the committee in time, it would not take more than a year for the committee to give clearance. However, when the appraisal committee cannot evaluate reports in their meetings due to paucity of time, the eia reports are kept pending for up to two years," one official said.