An Environment Ministry plan for introducing a star-rating system for states on the basis of their promptness in granting environmental clearances to industrial or infrastructure projects has not been operationalised yet, the Ministry has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT). It told the NGT’s Chennai bench, where the proposal has been challenged, that it is still in the process of upgrading and operationalising the website that would facilitate this ranking of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs), a source told The Indian Express. The Ministry had introduced the star-rating system in January 2022 but it was challenged in the NGT by Meenava Thanthai K R Selvaraj Kumar Meenavar Nala Sangam, a Tamil Nadu-based organisation working for the rights of fishermen. The petitioners argued that it was arbitrary and would result in a dilution of scrutiny during the environmental impact assessment process. The petitioners also argued that the Ministry’s order was contrary to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006 which mandates detailed scrutiny of all the impact of all projects. In its affidavit filed before the Tribunal, the Ministry defended its decision and said that the order was purely administrative in nature and that there was no substantial question relating to the environmental governance that arose in this matter. It said that the rating criteria does not seek to change any process or timelines as provided in the EIA notification, 2006. The plea has now been listed for final hearing on May 13. The Ministry's order, issued on January 17, 2022, introduced a system for ranking the SEIAAs using a star-rating system based on efficiency and timelines in granting environmental clearances. This memo was issued following a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba in November 2021, on action taken on promoting 'ease of doing business'. The SEIAAs grant clearances on the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committees which go through every project proposal that has the potential to have a substantial environmental impact. As per the star-rating system, the SEIAA would get points on a scale of 0 to 7. A SEIAA would get two points for granting a clearance in less than 80 days, one point for clearing a project between 80 and 105 days and 0.5 points if the clearance was granted between 105 and 120 days. Zero points would be given to a SEIAA if it takes more than 120 days for granting environmental clearance.
