Environmental clearance period reduced: Prakash Javadekar

MUMBAI: Union Environment minister Prakash Javadekar today said the time taken for obtaining environmental clearance for projects has been reduced drastically during the Narendra Modi regime at the Centre.

"In 21 months of Modi regime, several examples of 'sushasan' (good governance) are coming forward," the BJP leader told reporters here.

"For example, in the previous regime, my ministry was known as a toll (collection) ministry. If we take the average of last 10 years, earlier it used to take 600 days for getting environmental nod. Now it takes 190 days. Our effort is to make it in 100 days," he said.

"We gave more powers to states. For defence projects on border like road and also projects in 117 Maoist-affected districts, we gave general approvals so that less time is taken in project competition," he said.

"Earlier Environment ministry was perceived as a roadblock ministry and people suffered," Javadekar said.

"We are now making processes transparent and open and decentralising our powers," he said.

Javadekar described the Ganga river purification mission as the start of river water purification in the entire country.

The Rs 20,000 crore for this project is a big commitment. The change in visible. Industrial pollution in Ganga has reduced considerably but more needs to be done, he said.

During the last 70 years, little attention was given to sewage treatment, he said.

"We have asked states to prepare sewage treatment plans," he said.

"We have prepared norms on disposal of waste, including e waste, biomedical waste, hazardous waste and building debris. These would be made public after a fortnight," the minister said.