**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 246, concerning defence infrastructure projects approved by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) since 2014. The response details the process by which proposals are examined and approved, covering environmental and wildlife considerations. The question was set to be answered on Feb 2, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Proposal Submission and Processing:**
* The SC-NBWL, constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, examines proposals.
* State governments/Union territories submit proposals through their respective State Boards for Wildlife.
* Proposals are applied online via the Parivesh portal, covering categories such as road, industry, infrastructure, hydel, defence, rail, and transmission lines.
* The proposals are processed as per extant provisions and guidelines.
* Details of proposals submitted online are available on parivesh.nic.in.
* **Protected Areas and Eco-Sensitive Zones:**
* Proposals falling in Protected Areas (National Parks and Sanctuaries) and their notified or default Eco-Sensitive Zones are addressed on a case-to-case basis.
* **Environmental and Wildlife Considerations:**
* Environmental and wildlife considerations, including project-specific assessments and mitigation measures, are examined according to applicable laws and guidelines.
* The SC-NBWL imposes conditions and mitigation measures to minimize impact on wildlife and habitats.
* Compliance is monitored by the concerned State/UT Governments.
* **Guidelines and Appraisal:**
* The Government issues guidelines and advisories for appraisal of infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive areas, including border regions.
* The appraisal mechanism is continuously reviewed and strengthened.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/Union Territories**
* **Impact**: Responsible for submitting proposals through their State Boards for Wildlife.
* **Action Required**: Ensure proposals for defence infrastructure projects comply with relevant environmental and wildlife protection laws and guidelines, and properly monitor the compliance of imposed mitigation measures.
**Project Implementing Agencies**
* **Impact**: Subject to environmental and wildlife considerations during project approval.
* **Action Required**: Submit project proposals online through the Parivesh portal, provide accurate information on environmental impact, and comply with mitigation measures imposed by the SC-NBWL.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact**: Responsible for issuing guidelines and continuously reviewing and strengthening the appraisal mechanism.
* **Action Required**: Ensure the government continues to issue guidelines and advisories for appraising infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive areas, including border regions, and that the appraisal mechanism is continuously reviewed and strengthened.
Key Entities Referenced
Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL): A committee responsible for approving defence and strategic infrastructure projects impacting wildlife and protected areas, constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for matters concerning the environment, forests, and climate change, overseeing the SC-NBWL's functioning.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: The central act under which the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) is constituted.
Parivesh Portal: Online portal where proposals for infrastructure projects are submitted and processed for environmental clearances.
Protected Areas: National Parks, Sanctuaries and Eco-Sensitive Zones, where project proposals are dealt on a case-to-case basis.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 246
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Defence Infrastructure Projects Approved by Standing Committee of NBWL
246. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the complete list of all defence and strategic infrastructure projects approved by the
Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) since 2014,
including names of project, implementing agency, estimated cost and current status;
(b) the details of protected areas, sanctuaries, national parks or eco-sensitive zones
impacted by these clearances, State-wise;
(c) whether any cumulative or project-specific Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
were conducted before grant of such approvals and if so, whether those reports will be
tabled or made public;
(d) the details of conditions and mitigation measures laid down by SC-NBWL for these
clearances, and whether any monitoring mechanism exists to ensure compliance; and
(e) whether the Government has issued any general guidelines for future clearances of
strategic projects in ecologically sensitive border regions and if not, whether it
proposes to do so?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL),
constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, examines proposals submitted by the
State governments/Union territories through State Board for Wild life. The proposals are
applied online through Parivesh portal under various categories such as road, industry,
infrastructure, hydel, defence, rail, transmission line and others etc. and are processed as per
the extant provisions and guidelines in this regard. The details of the proposals submitted online
also available on parivesh.nic.in.
The proposals falling in Protected Areas namely National Park and Sanctuaries and in their
notified or default Eco-Sensitive Zones, which may or may not be situated on the forest land
are dealt on merits on a case-to-case basis.
Environmental and wildlife considerations, including project-specific assessments and
mitigation measures, are examined as per applicable laws and guidelines. The SCNBWL
imposes conditions and mitigation measures to minimize impact on wildlife and habitats,
compliance of which is monitored by the concerned State/UT Governments.The Government has issued guidelines and advisories from time to time for appraisal of
infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive areas, including border regions, and the
appraisal mechanism is continuously reviewed and strengthened.
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