Lok Sabha polls 2014: Assocham asks EC to clarify on pending environment approvals

NEW DELHI: Assocham has asked the Election Commission to issue clarifications on pending project approvals sought by the Environment Ministry as the industry faces difficulties due to delays in getting the clearances.

Environment, forest, wildlife and other clearances for proposed projects have been pending since the implementation of the model code of conduct from March 5, when the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced.

The Ministry of Environment & Forests had sought the Election Commission's permission to allow it to grant approvals, saying these were routine jobs.

The Election Commission has been examining projects awaiting clearances to ensure their approval by the government does not break the model code of conduct.

"The project proponents are facing a lot of difficulties owing to delay in grant of environment and forest clearances by the Ministry of Environment and Forests," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath.

The ministry takes decisions on environment, forest and wildlife clearances based on recommendations made by sectoral expert appraisal committees, the forest advisory committee and the standing committee of National Board of Wildlife, which consider the various proposals.

All clearances are ongoing regulatory activities of the ministry.