Evaluation of Stipulated Conditions Imposed at the Time of Grant of Environment Clearance from the Perspective of Implementation of Compliance-A Case Study for Construction Projects in India

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to discuss the stipulated conditions imposed at the time of grant of environment clearance from the perspective of implementation of compliance in case of construction projects in India. Conditions as imposed on 40 different building and construction projects in India from 2008 to 2013 are studied and evaluated and for a ready reference a sample of 14 representative project types is given in the paper. Based on the evaluation, we conclude that the laid down conditions are general in nature and more or less same irrespective of the location or type of the project may be an educational institute, hospital, office, hotel, group housing, bus terminus, or multiplex and whether it graded platinum or bronze in rating or ungraded. The impacts of the project nowhere find a mention in the stipulated conditions and thus there is no correlation between the conditions imposed and the baseline environment parameters. There is a dire need to rework the stipulated conditions itself on the lines of environment management plan proposed by the project proponent including setting apart the cost of implementation, if an effective compliance as envisaged by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is to be achieved.