The Tamil Nadu government intends set up an additional State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) aiming at granting speedy clearances to growing number of infrastructure and development projects in the State.
A proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in this regard. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu (also holding the Environment portfolio) called on Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on Wednesday and handed over a representation highlighting various demands from Tamil Nadu. Secretary of TN’s Environment, Climate Change & Forests Department Supriya Sahu was also present.
As the tenure of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) are set to end in April this year, the TN government requested to expedite the clearance to its proposal for reconstituting these panels. It requested for sanctioning a project for creating a green shield for enhancing coastal and forest ecosystems in Thoothukudi district.
The proposal for green shield in Thoothukudi district was submitted to the Union Ministry under the National Action Plan on Climate Change and Green India Mission with an outlay of ₹27.53 crore. The project aims to halt sea erosion in several coastal areas in the district through nature-based solutions.
The TN government also submitted a comprehensive project to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) with an outlay of ₹74.4 crore for relocating Thengumarahada village from the buffer area of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve located in the Nilgiris district. It highlighted the importance of tiger conservation in that area and the frequent human wildlife conflict endangering safety of the local community.
Mr. Thennarasu also thanked the Union Minister for accepting the TN’s request and notifying an exemption of environmental clearance for industrial sheds with area up to 1.50 lakh sq.m., which was aimed at expediting industrial development in Tamil Nadu.
Published – February 13, 2025 12:03 am IST