S.O.221 (E) dated 18/01/2021-Amendment in EIA Notification, 2006

Che Gazette of India EXTRAORDINARY AT [I—QTE 3—IT-TVE (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 201] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2021/PAUSHA 28, 1942 gt 7% faoeft, 18 W=, 2021 FLAT. 221(H).— FET TR, TERTATT T AT T G §, qoi=7 (deem) afafm, ATFESTSH (F AT ATTAF) 7, & F ARATTHATEAT AT GATRATI F A=A F AT AT g1 aatEw AT AT FTATT TS FATAT I ATLAAT § ATATT ATEFAT AT T T OF =iy samafa £ 305 GI/2021 ) A I, FET AT, A (S e, 1986 F AW 5 % (4) @ F A afda e TETA TATT AT AT FATT ATAAAT F1.41.1533 (o), a8 14 fr=w, 2006, & fFaferfaT @@ I AT H, (F1Tr=-19) F THIT FT TAT U AT Terama T (= 3 form shife atwers (3o 77 wifae) MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 18th January, 2021 S.0. 221(E).—Whereas, the Central Government in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, in exercise of its powers by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has published the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as the said notification) vide number S.0.1533(E), dated the 14% September, 2006, making the requirement of prior environmental clearance from the concerned regulatory authority mandatory for all new projects or activities listed in the Schedule to the said notification, their expansion and modernisation and/or change in product mix, as the case may be, before any construction work or preparation of land by the project management except for securing the land; And whereas, in view of the outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID-19) and subsequent lockdowns (total or partial) declared for its control, implementation of projects or activities in the field has been affected. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is in receipt of number of requests for extension of the validity of prior environmental clearances beyond the maximum period allowed in the said notification, as the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet come to an end. The matter has been examined in the said Ministry and the concern is genuine keeping in view the fact that due to lockdowns (total or partial), continuation of activities in the field has been difficult. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with sub-rule (4) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government, after having dispensed with the requirement of notice under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the said rules in public interest, hereby makes the following further amendments in the notification of Government of India, in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, number S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14% September, 2006, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (II), namely:- In the said notification, - (i) in paragraph 7, in sub-paragraph 7(i), under sub-heading II. “Stage (2) — Scoping”, after clause (viii), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- “(ix). Notwithstanding anything contained above, the period from the I°' April, 2020 to the 31°' March, 2021 shall not be considered for the purpose of calculation of the period of validity of Terms of Reference granted under the provisions of this notification in view of outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID-19) and subsequent lockdowns (total or partial) declared for its control, however, all activities undertaken during this period in respect of the said Terms of Reference shall be treated as valid. ”’; (ii) for paragraph 9A, the following paragraph shall be substituted namely:- “94. Notwithstanding anything contained in this notification, the period from the 1° April, 2020 to the 31 March, 2021 shall not be considered for the purpose of calculation of the period of validity of Prior Environmental Clearances granted under the provisions of this noftification in view of outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID-19) and subsequent lockdowns (total or partial) declared for its control, however, all activities undertaken during this period in respect of the Environmental Clearance granted shall be treated as valid.”. [F.N0.22-25/2020-IA III] GEETA MENON, Joint Secy. Note: The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii) vide number S.0. 1533 (E), dated the 14® September, 2006 and was last amended vide the notification number S.0. 4254(E), dated the 27® November, 2020. and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.