The three state expert appraisal committees (SEACs) are for industrial and mining proposals, construction proposals within Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and construction proposals outside the region. With about 1,600 real estate, infrastructure and industrial projects in Maharashtra stalled for a month awaiting green nod, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said he had taken up the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The department has not been able to take a decision on the projects largely due to a directive issued by Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam of the Shiv Sena. Speaking in Mumbai Wednesday, Javadekar said, “We have given the state governments certain rights along with a lot of responsibility. They have to ensure that they speed up the process of approvals, not have impediments, while protecting the environment. I have already discussed it with the chief minister.” There are three committees at the state level that screen projects for an environmental clearance and recommend them to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for approval. The three state expert appraisal committees (SEACs) are for industrial and mining proposals, construction proposals within Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and construction proposals outside the region. However, all decisions related to environmental clearances remained unattended in May as Kadam had issued orders to keep meetings of all committees on hold. He later issued another notice allowing the meetings to be held but only after the agendas are cleared by him. Kadam said, “We have cleared the agenda for the committee that appraises industrial proposals. We are now looking at meeting agendas for the other committees.” Accordingly, the SEAC for industrial and mining proposals, which has about 520 pending projects, will now meet on June 18 and 19. Javadekar said his ministry had cleared 84 projects in Maharashtra that had been stalled for nearly a decade for want of clearances. These include the Chhattrapati Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea, a flyover on Peddar Road, a new freight rail line from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and several irrigation projects. On the proposed coastal road, for which the ministry recently agreed to amend norms to allow reclamation, Javadekar said, “We are strictly prohibiting any commercial or real estate usage of coastal land. The high-tide line will also not change… This will reflect not only in our rules, but in the (municipal) corporation and state government rules too.” Ragpickers to be awarded The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests will from next year award ragpickers and tie up with other ministries to give the workers in the unorganised sector health and skill development benefits. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Ragpicking as an informal sector has worked wonders for India. At their level, even when there is no formal arrangement, they are segregating and recycling waste. It’s a laudable effort.” – ENS