## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, specifically regarding the removal of aerial ropeways from the list of projects requiring prior Environmental Clearance (EC). This amendment, enacted on April 27, 2022, aims to streamline the development of ropeway projects, recognizing their potential as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, particularly in hilly areas. The key finding is that this amendment significantly alters the regulatory landscape for ropeway projects, potentially accelerating their implementation and contributing to improved connectivity and mobility.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the amendment to the EIA Notification, 2006, concerning aerial ropeways, based solely on the provided official policy text. This report aims to inform affected industries and stakeholders about the changes, their rationale, and potential impacts.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This report focuses on an amendment to the original Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, S.O. 1533 E, dated the 14th September, 2006. The core objective of the *original* policy, as inferred from the amendment text, was to ensure environmental protection by mandating prior environmental clearance for specific projects, including aerial ropeways (item 7g of the Schedule). The *objective of this specific amendment* is to remove this requirement for aerial ropeways.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment addresses concerns raised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding the inclusion of ropeways under the EIA Notification, 2006. The rationale behind the amendment is that ropeways are considered an important component of the transport network, particularly for last-mile connectivity and mobility in hilly areas. The text suggests that prior to 2006, these projects were excluded from the Environmental Clearance requirement. Moreover, Public utility ropeways have been excluded from the ambit of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, subject to certain conditions. The Expert Appraisal Committee of Infrastructure sector recommended that aerial ropeway is an environment friendly mode of transport in hilly areas with least impact on environment compared to Roads or Highways. Consequently, the amendment seeks to facilitate the development of ropeways by removing the need for prior EC, contingent upon adherence to environmental safeguards.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This amendment specifically focuses on altering the EIA Notification, 2006.
* **Specific Part Changed:** The amendment directly impacts Item 7g of the Schedule within the EIA Notification, 2006, under the heading "Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services." This item specifically listed aerial ropeways as projects requiring prior environmental clearance.
* **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment states: "In the Schedule to the said notification, under heading, Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services, Item 7g and the entries relating thereto shall be omitted." This constitutes the *complete removal* of aerial ropeways from the list of projects requiring prior Environmental Clearance.
* **Effect of the Change:** The effect of this change is that new aerial ropeway projects will *no longer be legally required* to obtain Environmental Clearance before commencing. This likely simplifies the approval process and potentially reduces the time and cost associated with project development.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include:
* **Developers and Investors:** Companies involved in the construction, operation, and financing of aerial ropeway projects.
* **Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:** The ministry that advocated for the change.
* **Local Communities:** Communities in hilly areas and other locations where ropeways are being considered for improved connectivity.
* **Environmental Consultants:** Firms and professionals providing environmental assessment and consulting services.
* **The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:** Responsible for the EIA Notification and its amendments.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is ultimately responsible for implementing and overseeing the amended notification.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment came into effect on April 27, 2022. The text doesn't specify detailed procedures for implementation, but it implies that new ropeway projects can proceed without prior EC from this date onward.
* **Amendment-Specific Implementation:** It is reasonable to expect the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will have an interest in monitoring and facilitating ropeway projects. It can be inferred that environmental safeguards are expected to be followed, although the specifics are not detailed in this particular text.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcome of this amendment is to accelerate the development of aerial ropeway projects in India. By removing the requirement for prior Environmental Clearance, the amendment aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and project timelines. The potential impact of these changes include:
* **Increased Investment:** The streamlined approval process may attract more investment in ropeway projects.
* **Improved Connectivity:** Faster project implementation could lead to improved connectivity in hilly and remote areas.
* **Economic Growth:** The development of ropeways could generate economic opportunities in the regions they serve.
* **Environmental Considerations:** While the removal of EC aims to accelerate project development, it is important to emphasize that proponents are still expected to adhere to environmental safeguards, even though specific guidance is not in this text.
**9. Conclusion:**
The amendment to the EIA Notification, 2006, concerning aerial ropeways, represents a significant shift in policy. By removing the requirement for prior Environmental Clearance, the government aims to promote the development of this environmentally friendly mode of transportation. While the amendment has the potential to accelerate project implementation and improve connectivity, it is crucial to ensure that environmental safeguards are maintained to mitigate any potential negative impacts. This amendment is likely to be of great significance to the transportation industry.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry responsible for the notification and environmental policies.
New Delhi: Location of the ministry issuing the notification.
Environmental Clearance: Regulatory requirement for projects, referred to as EC.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The ministry that requested a review of the environmental clearance requirement for ropeways.
Forest Conservation Act, 1980: Act from which Public utility ropeways have been excluded subject to certain conditions.
Expert Appraisal Committee of Infrastructure sector: Committee within the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that deliberated on the matter.
EIA Notification, 2006: Environment Impact Assessment Notification which is being amended.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: The act under which the amendments are being made.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: The rules under which the amendments are being made.
Central Government: The entity making the amendment to the notification.
Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services: Heading in the Schedule to the said notification under which Item 7g existed.
Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi: Address of the Government of India Press.
Delhi: Location of the Controller of Publications.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-27042022-235392
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CG-DL-E-27042022-235392
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1860] नई दिल्ली, बुधवार, अप्रलै 27, 2022/विै ाख 7, 1944
No. 1860] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022/VAISAKHA 7, 1944
पर्ावा रण, वन और िलवार् ु पररवतना मत्रं ालर्
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल् ली, 27 अप्रैल, 2022
का.आ. 1953(अ).— भारत सरकार के तत्क ालीन पर्ाावरण और वन मंत्रालर् कअ अजधसूचना सं. का.आ.
1533 (अ) तारीख 14 जसतम्ब र, 2006 जिसे इसकअ अनुसूची (जिसे इसमें इसके पश् चातउ उत अ अजधसूचना क ा गर्ा )ै के
अतंगता आन े वाली पररर्ोिनाओं जिनमें अनुसूची कअ मि सं. 7(छ) के अंतगात आन े वाले आकािी रज्ि ू माग ा भी , के जलए
पूवा पर्ाावरणीर् अनापजि (ईसी) कअ अपेक्षा के संबंध में भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग 2, खंड 3, उपखंड (ii) म ें
प्रकाजित कअ गई िी;
और मंत्रालर् को सड़क पररव न और रािमाग ा मंत्रालर् स े अभ्र्ावेिन प्राप् त ुआआ ै जिसमें र् किन दकर्ा गर्ा
ै दक रज्ि ू माग ा िेि के पररव न नेरवका का म त् वपूणा घरक चूंदक प ाड़ी क्षेत्रों म ें इसका प्रर्ोग अज तम मील संर्ोिकता
और साि ी गजतिीलता प्रिान करने के जलए दकर्ा िा सकता ै और इससे प ले इन पररर्ोिनाओं को पर्ाावरण
अनापजि कअ आवश् र्कता केवल व्ा 2006 म ें उत् प न ुआई िी और इससे प ले र्े पररर्ोिनाएं पर्ाावरण अनापजि कअ
अपेक्षा से अपवर्िात कअ गई िीं । इसके अजतररक्त , मंत्रालर् से अनरु ोध दकर्ा गर्ा िा दक व उक्त अजधसूचना का
पुनर्वालोकन करें और पूवा पर्ावा ण अनापजि (ईसी) कअ अपक्षे ा करन े वाली पररर्ोिनाओं स ेरज्ि ू मागक को अपवर्िात करे;
और लोक उपर्ोगी रज्ि ू मागक को पत्र एं.सं. 5-2/2017–एंसी तारीख 05.08.2019 के अनुसार कजतपर्
ितक के अधीन र त ेुआए वन (सरं क्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1980 (1980 का 69) कअ पररजध से अपवर्िात कर दिर्ा गर्ा ;ै
2900 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
और मामला, जवचारजवमिा के जलए इस मंत्रालर् म ें अवसंरचना जविे्ज्ञ मूल् र्ाकंन सजमजत को जनदिष्टा दकर्ा गर्ा
िा । व् र्ापक जवचारजवमिा के पश् चातउ, उक्त जविे्ज्ञ सजमजत ने र् जसंाररि कअ ै दक आकािीर् रज्ि ू माग ा प ाड़ी क्षेत्रों
में पररव न का पर्ाावरण अनकु ूल पद्धजत ै जिसमें सड़कों र्ा रािमागक कअ तलु ना म ें पर्ाावरण पर कम से कम समाघात
ो और र् जसंाररि कअ िी दक आकािीर् रज्ि ूमागक पररर्ोिनाओं को समर्-समर् पर अजधकजित कजतपर् पर्ाावरण
सुरक्षोपार्ों के अधीन र ते ुआए ईआईए अजधसूचना, 2006 कअ पररजध से अपवर्िात दकर्ा िाए;
और पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) जनर्म, 1986 के जनर्म 5 के उपजनर्म (3) के खंड (घ) के साि परित पर्ाावरण
(संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 (1986 का 29) कअ धारा 3 कअ उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2) के खंड (v) के अधीन प्रिि
िजक्त र्ों का प्रर्ोग करत े ुआए पर्ाावरण समाघात जनधारा ण अजधसूचना 2006 म ें संिोधन करने के जलए प्राप प अजधसूचना
का.आ.स.ं 491 (अ) तारीख 2 ंरवरी, 2022 द्वारा प्रकाजित कअ गई िी जिसमें ऐसे उन सभी व्यजत अर्ों से जिनकअ उससे
प्रभाजवत ोने कअ संभावना िी, उस तारीख स,े जिसको उक्त अजधसूचना कअ रािपत्र कअ प्रजतर्ां िनता को उपल् ध करा
िी िाती , साि दिन कअ अवजध के भीतर आक्षपे और सुझाव आमंजत्रत दकए गए िे;
और उक्त अजधसूचना कअ प्रजतर्ां 7 ंरवरी, 2022 को िनता को उपल् ध करा िी गई िीं ;
और उपरोत अ पैरा 5 म ें उजल्ल जखत प्राप प अजधसूचना के उत् तर म ें प्राप् त सभी आक्षेपों और सुझावों पर के रीर्
सरकार द्वारा सम् र्क प प स ेजवचार कर जलर्ा गर्ा ;ै
अत: अब, के रीर् सरकार, पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) जनर्म, 1986 के जनर्म 5 के उपजनर्म (3) के खंड (घ) के साि
परित पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 (1986 का 29) कअ धारा 3 कअ उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2) के खडं (v)
द्वारा प्रित् त िजक्त र्ों का प्रर्ोग करत े ुआए उक्त अजधसूचना में जनम्न जलजखत और संिोधन करती ,ै अिाात:उ--
उक्त अजधसूचना कअ अनुसूची में, िी्ा ‘’पर्ाावरण सेवाएं सज त भौजतक अवसंरचना’’ के अधीन मि 7(छ) और
उससे सबंजधत प्रजवजष्टर्ों का लोप दकर्ा िाएगा ।
[ंा.स.ं आईए-3-22/17/2021-आईए.III]
डॉ. सुिीत कुमार बािपेर्ी, संर्ुत अ सजचव
ररप्पण : मूल अजधसूचना भारत के रािपत्र, संख्र्ा का.आ. 1533(अ), तारीख 14 जसतंबर, 2006 में प्रकाजित कअ गई िी
और उसमें अजधसूचना संख्र्ा का.आ. 1886(अ), तारीख 20 अप्रैल, 2022 द्वारा अंजतम बार सिं ोधन दकर्ा गर्ा
िा ।
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 27th April, 2022
S.O. 1953(E).—Whereas the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of
Environment and Forest number S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 was published in the Gazette of India,
Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), regarding requirement of prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for
the projects covered in its Schedule (hereinafter referred to as the said notification) including aerial ropeways which
are covered under item 7(g) of the Schedule;
And whereas, the Ministry is in receipt of representation from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
stating that ropeways are an important component of the transport network of the country as it can be used to provide
last mile connectivity as well as mobility in hilly areas and the requirement of environmental clearance for these
projects came only in 2006 and before that these projects were excluded from the requirement of Environmental
Clearance. Further, the Ministry was requested to review the said notification and to exclude ropeways from the
projects requiring prior Environmental Clearance (EC);
And whereas, Public utility ropeways have been excluded from the ambit of the Forest (Conservation) Act,
1980 (69 0f 1980) subject to certain conditions as per letter F. No. 5-2/2017-FC dated 05.08.2019;[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
And whereas, the matter was referred to the Expert Appraisal Committee of Infrastructure sector in this
Ministry for deliberation. After detailed deliberation, the said Expert Committee recommended that aerial ropeway is
an environment friendly mode of transport in hilly areas with least impact on environment compared to Roads or
Highways and recommended that aerial ropeway projects may be excluded from the ambit of EIA Notification, 2006
subject to certain environmental safeguards laid down from time to time.
And whereas, a draft notification for making amendments in the Environment Impact Assessment
Notification, 2006 in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of
section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 read with clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment
(Protection) Rules, 1986 was published, vide number S.O. 491(E) dated the 2nd February 2022, inviting objections and
suggestions from all the persons likely to be affected thereby, within a period of sixty days from the date on which
copies of Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the Public;
And whereas, copies of the said notification were made available to the public on 7th February, 2022;
And whereas, all objections and suggestions received in response to the draft notification mentioned in para 5
above have been duly considered by the Central Government;
Now, therefore, in exercise of 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 clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendment in the
said notification, namely,-
In the Schedule to the said notification, under heading, “Physical Infrastructure including Environmental
Services”, Item 7(g) and the entries relating thereto shall be omitted.
[F. No. IA3-22/17/2021-IA.III]
Dr. SUJIT KUMAR BAJPAYEE, Jt. Secy.
Note: The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, vide, number S.O. 1533(E), dated the
14th September, 2006 and last amended vide the notification number S.O. 1886(E), dated the 20th April, 2022.
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and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.