NAREDCO & MoEF Expert Committee Discuss Issues

NAREDCO organized an online meet with recently formed MoEF Expert Committee members to discuss long pending MOEF issues for fast tracking and framing model conditions for housing and construction projects requiring prior environmental clearance. The suggestions for Conditions or pre certifications to qualify for fast track and Framing model conditions for EC to housing and construction projects were presented by Mr Kishore Bhatija, Vice President, NAREDCO Maharashtra and MD, K. Raheja Corp. The meeting was attended by all the 4 members of the committee including the Chairman , Shri. Sunil Kumar Singh, I.A.S, MoEF Expert Committee, MOEF&CC, Government of India along with Shri Sanjay Seth, Senior Director - Sustainable Habitat Division, Shri S. Karthikeyan, Principal Counsellor and Dr. Vinod Kumar Singh, Additional Director, MoEF & CC.  25 Developer from NAREDCO including Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, National President, NAREDCO and Mr. Rajan Bandelkar, President Maharashtra were also a part of the meeting. Key Points Discussed:

1. The rules which are irrelevant in current digital age should be changed/updated accordingly
2. Separate set of rules for Housing & Construction sector projects should be defined, at these projects affect environment only during their construction period.
3. Multiple and redundant appraisal should be avoided. For e.g. Green building projects should be exempted from obtaining pre environmental clearances.
4. Project Amendments should not be treated as new projects and separate provisions should be there for such cases.
5. The project appraisal should be done based on conceptual plan for full consumption of FSI, instead of approval in phases from Planning Authority.
6. The validity period for any project should be linked to its size.
7. The Criteria for prior EC for Building Construction projects shall be revised.
8. Delay in forming State Authorities should be avoided and the frequency of hearings should be increased to ensure less back log.
9. The RE projects should not fall under the umbrella of obligation towards CER activities.
10. The SEAC/SEIAA appraisal should focus on environmental parameters and should avoid recommendations relating to planning of the buildings.