Making further concessions for creating public infrastructure in Naxalite areas, the government on Thursday ordered that projects like building of roads, schools or hospitals on forest land would not require clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 as long as the total forest land to be diverted is not more than five hectares. In such cases, the state governments themselves would be authorised to grant approvals and applications need not be sent to the Union Environment Ministry for approval. Only recently, the Environment Ministry had raised this ceiling from one hectare to two hectares. However, a number of chief ministers wrote to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh asking for further relaxation of the provisions of FCA in the Naxalite areas. Ramesh was given a detailed presentation on this issue by the Maharashtra government during his visit to Gadchiroli district in the state earlier this week. Home Minister P Chidambaram, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Planning Commission Member Secretary Sudha Pillai have also spoken in favour of an upward revision of this ceiling.