PANAJI
In a major relaxation for crucial linear projects, Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has informed States that all underground works in forest land linked to linear, irrigation, hydel, and other development projects are environmentally-friendly activities and are exempt from compensatory afforestation.
The matter was discussed during the Forest Advisory Committee meeting held on January 27 in response to a request from the Rajasthan government, which enquired about the applicability of compensatory afforestation for tunnels constructed as part of water resource development projects.
“Construction of tunnels for irrigation or other similar purposes such hydel projects is an environment friendly activity as it does not interfere with surface flora, fauna and causes no surface disturbances,” the minutes of the meeting stated.
“Accordingly the Committee recommended that all underground works in the forest land liked to linear projects, irrigation, hydel and other developmental projects should be considered at par with the underground mining proposals and accordingly, applicability of the provisions of raising compensatory afforestation, Net present Value should be decided and prescribed by the processing authorities in such cases involving underground works such as construction of tunnels,” it added.
The Committee said the ministry's October 1, 2024, guidelines have already allowed such dispensation to linear projects (railways and roads) wherein keeping in view the fact that there is no disturbances on the ground surface, construction of tunnels linked to linear projects have been exempted from raising compensatory afforestation and for charging NPV @ 50% of the normal NPV rates.
It further noted that as per guidelines issued by the Ministry on April 17, 2018, the tunnels proposed to be constructed as a component of hydel projects were also considered at par with the underground mining proposals and accordingly, the provisions of CA and NPV were made applicable in such cases involving construction of tunnels linked to hydel projects.
