The application to be made in the prescribed proforma has to be accompanied by a project report which will include a Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment Report, which will be based on data of one season only and shall be followed by a comprehensive report, an Environmental Management Plan prepared in accordance to guide lines issued by the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests; Pollution control Plans; Risk analysis reports; N.O.C. from state Pollution Control Board and commitment regarding availability of water and electricity. For consultants see Specialist Services
The reports submitted with the application shall be evaluated and assessed by the Impact Assessment Agency of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. It is mandatory to conduct a public hearing for all projects covered by the notification. Public hearing has to be conducted by the State Pollution Control Board. The assessment shall be completed within a period of 90 days from receipt of the requisite documents and data from the project authorities and completion of public hearing and decision conveyed with in thirty days thereafter. The clearance will be valid for 5 years for commencement of the construction or operation. No construction work, preliminary or other wise, relating to the setting up of the project may be undertaken till the environmental and/or site clearance is obtained.
If no comments from the impact assessment agency are received within the time limit, the project would be deemed to have been approved as proposed by project authorities.
Items reserved for the small scale sector with investments less than Rs 1 crore are exempt from the application of this notification.
In case of expansion or modernization of existing projects, if it is certified that no increase is likely to occur in the existing pollution load due to the proposed expansion or modernization, the project proponent will not be required to seek the environmental clearance but a copy of such a certificate issued by the State Pollution Control Board will be submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency.
The notification has been amended in 1997 and provisions have been prescribed for Public Hearing before clearance of projects. It has also been provided that certain categories of Thermal Power Plants shall now have to obtain environment clearance from the state department of environment.