If you’re planning to build or renovate a house, you might need environmental clearance. Getting this approval can be a long and complicated process, but it’s important to ensure the project follows eco-friendly guidelines.
Are you interested in learning more about environmental clearance? Read more.
What is Environmental Clearance?
Environmental clearance is an approval process in India that ensures the construction project will not harm the environment. These reviews on projects will make sure they follow environmental norms and do not cause harsh damage to nature. This process involves conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of construction projects, including noise, air quality, and water usage. For residential construction, you need to get environmental clearance to guarantee compliance with existing construction laws in India.
Why is Environmental Clearance Required for House Construction?
Environmental clearance offers:
Reduced Environmental Impact
All types of construction, including house construction, have considerable impacts on environmental health. For house construction, you may need to cut the trees and clear the land, causing deforestation. You may leave construction waste, pollute, or overuse water. During the overall construction process, the complete method will cause disturbance to the ecosystem.
Environmental clearance evaluates how your project can affect air, water, soil, plants, animals, and ecosystems. This process will help to make better decisions to reduce harm to nature. By achieving environmental clearance before starting construction, you can mitigate these adverse impacts through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. This EIA process will assess potential environmental challenges and propose essential mitigation measures. This will include sustainable construction principles throughout the construction lifecycle.
Compliance with Legal Requirements
It is essential to obtain environmental clearance as it is a legal necessity in India. Residential projects crossing a built-up area of 20,000 square meters, or those going to be built in ecologically sensitive areas, have to get EC. By getting an environmental clearance certificate, you can easily start the construction work and make sure your project follows government regulations. This is important for getting legal building permits. It will help you to avoid fines, legal problems, and delays. This will make sure everyone follows the National Building Code and local standards. This EC works as a legal framework to make sure all construction projects add value to sustainable construction practices, preventing ecological degradation.
Environmental Clearance Procedure for House Construction in India
You must get EC to ensure your house construction meets environmental compliance standards. In India, you need to follow the following systematic environmental clearance process to obtain EC for your house:
Understand Your Project Type:
You need to understand your house project types based on the EIA notification schedule. There are two categories: A and B.
Category A projects
Category A projects need environmental approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests MoEF based on the recommendation of an EAC- Expert Appraisal Committee. Examples of Category A projects include the construction or expansion of ports, harbors, airports, nuclear power plants, and primary metallurgical industries like iron, steel, and copper
Category B projects
Category B projects require approval from a State EIA Authority, based on the opinion of a State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC). They are divided into two groups.
Category B1 projects: They require EIA (compulsory). It involves screening, scoping, and the issuance of Terms of Reference by the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for further study and detailed EIA preparation. For instance, building and construction projects with a built-up area exceeding 20,000 square meters fall under Category B.
Category B2 projects: They do not require EIA. Category B2 projects only require screening and direct appraisal based on merit, without the need for public hearings or consultation. Examples of Category B2 projects can include smaller scale projects like offshore and onshore oil, gas and shale exploration projects, hydroelectric projects up to 25 MW, and irrigation projects between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares of command area
Application Submission:
You need to fill out an application form, including all essential documentation, including
- Project report,
- Land ownership proof
- Preliminary site details.
- Project layout plans
- Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
- Pre-feasibility report
- Topographic details
Most residential constructions come under Category B projects, allowing application submission to the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIA).
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):
After the submission of the application, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be conducted. This will help to evaluate the possible environmental impacts of your project. This EIA covers major aspects such as air quality, noise pollution, and resource usage. The EIA report should give all insights into the proposed construction’s adverse and beneficial effects.
Public Consultation:
You need to ask stakeholders and localities affected by the project for their opinions. Public hearings or meetings will be held to allow community members to express their concerns. These concerns will be considered before making the final decision. However, for Category B1 projects (which include some building and construction work), public consultation may not be necessary or compulsory.
Review by Expert Committee:
After public consultation, a group of experts called the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) checks the project. They evaluate the findings in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and use the information to give recommendations regarding the project.
Grant of Clearance:
After a thorough review, if your project satisfies environmental standards, you will receive a grant for an environmental clearance certificate. You can continue with the start of construction. This environmental clearance will be valid for five years after the house construction process begins.
Environmental Clearance Requirements for Residential Projects in India
In India, residential buildings or large housing projects exceeding a build-up area of 20,000 square meters or those in sensitive areas usually need environmental clearance (EC). Recently, the government has tried to remove this rule for some projects. However, the Supreme Court has stayed recent efforts to remove clearance rules for projects up to 1,50,000 square meters, so the existing rules still apply. According to the EIA Notification, 2006, an EC is required for projects that could impact the environment. Even though exemptions were suggested, the law still requires EC for large-scale projects in sensitive areas to protect nature and wildlife.
Challenges in Obtaining Environmental Clearance
The following are some difficulties to achieve environmental clearance:
Lengthy Approval Process: The clearance process takes a long time, which can be a reason for delay in project completion and additional pressure.
High Costs: You may need to spend additional money to prepare essential documents and to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Lack of Awareness: Many builders and homeowners do not fully understand the clearance process, leading to mistakes and non-compliance.
Environmental clearance regulations and requirements can be different for different regions. You need to check with local authorities to get the latest and correct information about your location. You can hire experienced consultants or an expert construction company to simplify complex procedures and speed up the process.
Hemali Patel