PM calls meet to achieve consensus on environment clearances for the power, coal and steel projects

NEW DELHI: In the wake of a ministers' panel failing to achieve a consensus on environment clearances for the power, coal and steel projects, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of the ministers concerned on June 7.

Streamlining forestry and environment clearances for quick taking off of new projects and giving limit of 150 days for such approvals are expected to be the main items on the agenda of the high-level meeting, sources said.

A Group of Ministers ( GoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, has been grappling with the inter-ministerial differences on 'go' and 'no-go' mining areas.

According to the earlier guidelines that are being resisted by the infrastructure ministries, mining is allowed only in 'go' areas where there are no dense forests.

The GoM has met twice in February and April without success on resolving the differences as the environment ministry does not seem to be agreeing to these norms.

Sources said the prime minister's meeting would also review moratorium on projects which are not able to meet the environment measuring index. The other issues likely to come up for discussion include seeking cooperation from coal-producing states in addressing the problems relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation and law and order.

The meeting, which was postponed twice, would be attended by Mukherjee, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.