Latest news with #EIANotification2006
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Approval issue: Plaint against Cacora sewage treatment plant dismissed
Panaji: The Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (Goa-SEIAA) dismissed a complaint filed by a political party against the Cacora sewage treatment plant (STP). The authority stated that the project does not fall under its purview and, therefore, does not require prior environmental clearance (EC). The complaint was filed by Revolutionary Goans, based on which the Goa-SEIAA asked the Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa to submit its response. The authority noted that the 7.5 MLD capacity plant being constructed near the Hodar bridge was sanctioned by the Union jal shakti ministry and that its construction started after obtaining all the necessary permissions, including CRZ clearance. 'Regarding the allegations made by RG pertaining to violating the EIA Notification 2006 and the NGT order, the authority noted that standalone STPs don't require prior environmental clearance. The authority also noted that the NGT order specifically pertains to common effluent treatment plants, which differ from sewage treatment plants that handle domestic sewage,' the Goa-SEIAA said in its order. 'Moreover, the NGT confirmed that STPs are not covered under the EIA Notification 2006 and therefore don't require prior EC,' the authority said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
03-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Citing court rulings, govt says Curchorem STP doesn't need green clearance
Margao: State govt has defended the construction of the sewage treatment plant at Curchorem without conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA), pointing to several court rulings that it claims exempt STPs from such requirements. In a written reply to a legislative assembly question by MLA Viresh Borkar, environment minister Aleixo Sequeira has categorically stated that 'there is no requirement for environmental clearance (EC) for STPs under the EIA Notification 2006.' The STP at Curchorem courted controversy after it emerged through an RTI reply in June that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had no records of any EIA being conducted for the STP. Govt's position rests primarily on three judicial orders. The most significant is a National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision in Kehar Singh versus State of Haryana of Sep 2013, which govt claims clarified that STPs don't require environmental clearance under the 2006 EIA notification. Further, the reply refers to two more recent cases — an NGT ruling in Undir Paryavaran Saurakshan Manch and others versus the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and others of Jan 2019, and a high court judgment in Jairaj Naik and others versus the Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Ltd of Nov 2019. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo However, this contradicts the earlier NGT judgment cited by activists (Application No. 124 of 2013), which mandated prior environmental clearance for the construction of STPs, particularly for combined effluent treatment plants handling more than 10% industrial contributions. Nevertheless, govt's reply has left considerable information gaps. The reply states that details regarding water quality assessments, public consultations, and environmental monitoring are 'not available' or 'not applicable' due to govt's position that no EIA was required. Govt stance notwithstanding, activists maintain that the STP's location on the Zuari riverbank is fraught with environmental red flags. Activist and Curchorem resident Aditya Dessai earlier pointed out that the project resulted in 'large-scale destruction of mangroves through filling of the riverbed within the high tide line'. Besides, the sewage line passing through the Cacora industrial estate also raises questions about whether the facility should be classified as a combined effluent treatment plant, which would bring into play stricter EIA requirements under the NGT guidelines. Further in its reply, govt has acknowledged receiving at least one complaint regarding the STP construction and operation, with the matter currently 'under consideration' and 'the decision pending'. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Government to extend validity of infra projects cleared under IPZ notification
The Union environment ministry has issued a notification to extend the validity of infrastructure projects cleared under the Islands Protection Zone (IPZ) notification 2011 that applies to areas in the Andaman and Nicobar islands as well as Lakshadweep, while also making way for splitting or transfer of IPZ clearances among entities. The Radhanagar Beach on the Andaman Islands.(Unsplash) The notification issued on July 4 states that the clearance accorded to projects under this notification will be valid for 10 years. The period may be extended by a maximum period of a year, if an application is made during the validity of the clearance along with the recommendation of the Coastal Zone Management Authority concerned. The notification states that the objective of the amendment is to make the validity of make the validity of IPZ clearances in IPZ 2011 uniform with provisions of the environment impact assessment notification 2006 that is implemented across the country. 'Certain provision related to validity of clearance in the IPZ Notification, 2011 and its amendment therein is not in conformity with EIA Notification 2006 and the Central Government is of the opinion that it is imperative to amend the IPZ Notification, 2011 to make it in consonance with EIA Notification 2006 as amended,' the notification states. Where the application for extension of the period of validity of clearance is filed within 30 days after expiry, the delay may be condoned by the head of the division concerned in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change or the member-secretary of the Coastal Zone Management Authority. If such an application is made 30 days after expiry of the period of such validity but within 90 days after expiry, the delay may be condoned by the Union environment minister or the chairperson of the Coastal Zone Management Authority. The amendment also makes a provision for transfer or splitting of IPZ clearances. An IPZ clearance granted for a specific project or activity to an applicant may be transferred during its validity to another legal person entitled to undertake the project or activity on application by the transferor on the same terms and conditions under which the clearance was initially granted and for the same period of validity. A clearance granted for a specific project may be split between two or more legal persons entitled to undertake the project and transferred during the validity to another legal person. The IPZ notification divides the islands into Island Coastal Regional Zone (ICRZ-I) areas that are environmentally most critical; the ICRZ-II constituting the developed land areas up to or close to the shoreline, within the existing municipal limits or in other existing legally designated urban areas; ICRZ-III land areas that are relatively undisturbed; and ICRZ water areas. In general, setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries, operations or processes is prohibited in these areas due to the ecological sensitivity of these islands but it is allowed in exceptional circumstances for certain categories of industries under IPZ. By amendments made in 2019 to the 2011 IPZ notification, the clearances accorded were valid for 7 years, provided that the construction activities are completed and the operations commence within seven years from the date of issue of such clearance. The validity may be further extended for a maximum period of three years, provided an application is made to the authority concerned by the applicant within the validity period. The latest notification changes this clause and introduces provisions of splitting or transfer of environmental clearances to infrastructure projects coming up on the islands. The notification adds that the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 provide that whenever it appears to the central government that it is in public interest to do so, it may dispense with the requirement of notice and, hence, there is no provision for sending objections/suggestions to the amendments made. HT has reported that several infrastructure and tourism projects are coming up in Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep. The Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project has four major components: an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICCT); an international airport; a power plant; and a township. There is also a Trunk Infrastructure Road that will cut through Great Nicobar Island. The total cost is estimated at ₹81,800 crore. The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot and cover the western half of the Indonesian archipelago. 'Public participation in environmental decision-making enhances the legitimacy of governmental actions and supports better, more informed choices. Recognizing this, the Ministry of Law & Justice introduced the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy, 2014, recommending that all departments place draft subordinate legislations in the public domain for consultation. The policy advises a minimum of thirty days for public feedback and requires an explanatory note to accompany each draft to improve accessibility and any proposed amendment of this nature—particularly when it is technical and has far-reaching ecological and public implications—must undergo a process of public consultation,' said Debadityo Sinha, lead of the climate and ecosystems team at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sewage treatment plant project stokes ire of Assolda locals
Margao: At the Assolda gram sabha on Sunday, locals voiced strong opposition to the under-construction sewage treatment plant (STP) at Hodar, near the banks of a Zuari tributary. Locals expressed outrage that the NOC for the STP was granted by the authorities without conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study. The locals said that was a violation of the EIA Notification 2006 and the orders issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The STP project, the locals said, is located close to a water body, and could harm ecosystems and pose health risks to people. They demanded the immediate cancellation of the NOC and a thorough environmental study before any further permissions are considered. The gram sabha also discussed the issue of the rise in illegal constructions in the village, including encroachments on comunidade land. The locals demanded an explanation from the panchayat over its failure to act on these illegalities despite a directive from the high court, which ordered the panchayat to act against unauthorised structures. 'The panchayat is ignoring clear directions issued by both the NGT and the HC. This gross negligence could amount to contempt of court,' a gram sabha member, Aditya Dessai, said. 'Some complaints on illegal structures have been pending for over five years without any response. This is unacceptable.'
