Border projects won't have blanket exemption, environment ministry told Parlimentary panel

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

environment ministry is learnt to have clarified to the joint committee of Parliament on the Forest (Conservation) Amendment bill, 2023, that it will not allow a «blanket exemption». The committee adopted its original draft on Tuesday without suggesting major changes. As many as six members of the 31-member panel, two each from Congress, Trinamool and DMK have given dissent notes on the report.

Responding to the queries regarding exemption given for strategic projects on LAC/LoC/international borders, the ministry is learnt to have clarified to the panel that the exemption will be allowed only for specific «linear projects of strategic importance» and will not be available to private entities. It is also learnt to have stated that this has been proposed in consultation with the defence ministry only for «security-related infrastructure in border areas». The bill was referred to the joint committee in March amid heavy criticism over its alleged dilution of forest protection laws.

The issue of border related exemption has, in fact, generated quite a debate over possible impact on forest area and biodiversity. Several members of the panel and state governments have also expressed reservations about how the 100 km exemption could impact the northeastern and hill states as the distance could cover almost the entire area. The ministry, however, has claimed that the proposed exemption along the international borders is not a «generic exemption» and is meant only for «specific linear projects of strategic importance» as identified by the central government.