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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1497
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
Environmental and forest clearances in Odisha
1497. DR. SASMIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether Government is aware that environmental and forest clearances for mining,
industrial and infrastructure projects in tribal-dominated districts of Odisha such as
Rayagada, Koraput and Sundargarh have been granted without full and verifiable
compliance with provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, including recognition of
individual and community forest rights;
(b) the number of projects in these districts that have been accorded forest or environmental
clearance during the last three years despite pending or disputed Gram Sabha consent
and whether such approvals were subsequently reviewed or rectified; and
(c) whether post-clearance monitoring mechanisms, including site inspections have been
found effective?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) All new Projects/Activities, including their expansion, modernisation, change in
product mix etc. covered under the Schedule to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
Notification, 2006, as amended require prior Environmental Clearances (EC). The process of
grant of EC involves a four stage appraisal process, namely screening, scoping, public
consultation and appraisal. The final EC is thereafter granted by the regulatory authority, viz.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or the State Level
Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), as the case may be.
Further, in cases involving diversion of forest land, prior approval of the Central Government
is also required under the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam,
1980. In accordance with the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980 and the rules framed thereunder, proposals received from the State
Governments are comprehensively examined by the Advisory Committee constituted under
Section 3 of the Adhiniyam. Such examination includes due diligence in assessing the direct
and indirect impacts of diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes.
Further, as per the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, the
final use of forest land for non-forestry purposes, by the State can only be undertaken after
fulfilment and compliance of the provisions of all other Acts and rules, including ensuring
settlement of rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
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