GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1648

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

Violation of Environmental Norms in Steel flyover and PRR projects

1648. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) Whether the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka has been issuing Environmental clearances and violating norms under EIA 2006 Notification dated the 14 September, 2006, as noticed in the controversial Steel Flyover and Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) projects in Bengaluru; and

(b) If so, what steps Government is taking to ensure that SEIAA honours its mandate and protect citizens and does not become a rubber stamp for State Government and builders?

ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) The State Level Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka, have stated that they have neither received any application seeking Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006 nor any Environmental Clearance has been issued for construction of Steel Flyover in Bengaluru.

The SEIAA, Karnataka have considered the application submitted by the Bangalore Development Authority seeking Environmental Clearance for development of Eight Lane Peripheral Ring Road- Phase-I, connecting Tumkur Road to Hosur Road (crossing Bellary Road & Old Madras Road) under the EIA Notification, 2006. The proposal was duly considered and Environmental Clearance granted to the said project based on the recommendation of State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) on 20.11.2014 following due diligence as per the EIA Notification, 2006 as amended from time to time.

(b) The SEIAA, Karnataka considers applications under the EIA Notification, 2006 and issues Environmental Clearances on the basis of recommendations of the SEAC in accordance with provision of law and on merit. The compliance monitoring of Environmental Clearance conditions is done against the baseline information available in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report/Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

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