Gurugram: Tuesday’s statement by the Chairman of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, (SEIAA), stated that the authority will strive to improve compliance and enforcement to reduce environmental damage due to Haryana’s infrastructural development. Sameer Pal Singh Srow made these remarks while addressing the media in Gurugram.
According to officials from the environment, Haryana has received around 1,108 environmental clearances since 2008, with the highest number in Gurugram and Faridabad. 60 violations were found in the 1108 clearances.
SEIAA received 578 requests for environment clearances over the past three-years, and 316 were granted clearance.
Srow stated that initially there was a lack of awareness and that not many people came forward to get environmental clearances. Entrepreneurs are now coming forward to get clearances after it was clear that projects cannot be started without the approval of environmental authorities. SEIAA will strengthen its enforcement wing to ensure compliance with environmental protection rules.
The chairman stated that the SEIAA website was launched Tuesday to make it easier to obtain environmental clearances. It contains information about fees, notifications and checklists of documents that can be attached to applications. The website will be accessible.
Fines of 1% of the project’s cost will be assessed for violations of environmental clearances. Since October last years, the state government started charging scrutiny fees to projects that seek clearance. Srow added that projects measuring between 1.5 lakh square metres and 50 hectares must be prepared with an environment impact assessment report, as well as an environment management plan.
During a meeting with project consultants on Tuesday, P Raghavendra Rao chairman of Haryana State Pollution Control Board stated that it was our moral responsibility to create a better and cleaner environment for the next generation. While we need to develop, it is important that we also preserve the environment.
