An autonomous environment regulator proposed

The Union MoEF plans to set up a National Environment Protection Authority to grant environmental clearances to different projects, ensuring conformity with environmental laws.

The discussion paper proposing to create the authority contains various models that can be used to structure and position the authority within the environmental regulatory framework of the country. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, has emphasised on the polluter-mustpay model apart from a system of incentives for environment management.

Meanwhile, the ministry is also looking at accreditation and certification of the Environment Impact Assessment by a consultant.

Private port operators may be allowed to fix tariffs

The Union Ministry of Shipping is mulling over a proposal to allow private operators in major ports to independently fix tariffs for activities like cargo & container handling and documentation based on the demand and supply factors. The move is aimed at bringing down tariffs by increasing competition. Currently, Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) decides tariff ceilings for all activities in the 12 major ports across the country, that handle 70 per cent of the export and import traffic.

The ministry is also in the process of strengthening TAMP by giving it more powers. It is thinking of delinking tariff from the port regulator so that TAMP could look into other areas such as environment.

Fresh NOCs for extension of validity mandatory for SEZs

The Union Government is likely to take up the issue of granting a third extension to the approval given to four SEZs, including Reliance Haryana's multiproduct SEZ in Gurgaon and Suzlon Infrastructure's high-tech SEZ in Karnataka.

The proposed extension is expected to be granted only if the government gets fresh no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the respective state governments.

The other two SEZ proposals which have sought extension for the third time are Chhattisgarh Infrastructure Development Corporation's gems & jewellery SEZ in Raigarh and RNB Infrastructure's textile SEZ in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

Currently, SEZ rules allow a three-year period for acquiring land and executing a project following its approval and have provision for up to two extensions of one year each. Since the four projects have already been given two extensions, the third extension is like seeking fresh approval. Therefore, it becomes necessary that the respective state governments give their no-objection certificates.

Green SEZ policy on the anvil

The Union Government has reportedly drafted a 'green policy' for making industrial and nonindustrial SEZs energy-efficient. The policy is likely to be introduced shortly.

The policy guidelines have already been drafted in consultation with the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad. Currently, the government is seeking inputs from the stakeholders as it is likely to take them as partners in this initiative rather than imposing the guidelines on them.

According to the draft guidelines, buildings in the SEZs need to comply by the energy conservation building code by laying down solar power systems to generate a minimum of 50 kW of power per ha, meeting 50 per cent of hot water requirements through solar heating and implementing 100 per cent water harvesting while ensuring zero water discharge. The guidelines also include minimising individual automobile use in the SEZ premises, encouraging pedestrian and bicycle use, and landscaping of 75 per cent of open area.

Union Government issues guidelines for Caravan, Heliport tourism

The Union Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines for development and promotion of Caravan, Wellness and Heliport tourism.

Under the guidelines, the Caravans will be popularised and promoted by developing Caravan Parks under PPP mode. The Caravan Parks are to be approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism once they develop the minimum required facilities such as parking bays, tourist amenities centre, landscaping, toilets and adequate measures for safety and security of tourists.

The parks will also provide electricity, water and sewerage disposal facilities to the Caravans which are parked. The ministry may loan upto Rs 5 crore per destination to state governments under its existing scheme of product infrastructure development of destination and circuits for development of Caravan Parks in the Government sector.

The ministry has also issued guidelines to extend financial assistance to the state governments for construction of heliports under the Scheme of Product and Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits. Two projects for construction of heliports at Mangan and Geetang Khola in Sikkim have already been sanctioned under this new initiative of the ministry. Both the projects are likely to be completed within two years.

No coal for new UMPPs

The Union Ministry of Power is likely to introduce few changes in the new ultra mega power projects (UMPP) policy. As per the proposed changes, all future projects of 4,000 MW capacity will have to rely on imported coal.

The move is aimed at protecting the limited coal resources of the country for providing fuel linkages to small and medium-sized plants.

According to policymakers, future UMPPs should be located in coastal regions to facilitate coal imports. Due to their large size they can achieve economies of scale even after importing coal.

Government may allow foreign participation in hydel projects

The Union Government is mulling over a proposal to lift the ban that had stopped foreign companies and individuals from certain countries to undertake hydel projects in sensitive border areas in India. The proposal is likely to come up for approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security shortly.

A Cabinet note under circulation has suggested that the government shall deny visa to only specific foreign individuals or employees of specific companies that need to be watched instead of putting a blanket ban on all foreign firms from countries on the sensitive list by security agencies. The government has incorporated the suggestions in the draft guidelines on participation of foreign companies in work contracts of hydro electric projects in sensitive areas.

According to the proposed guidelines, the government may empower ministries or PSUs to decide on the number of foreign workers to be allowed for a particular project. Foreigners working on sensitive projects will, however, remain under the watchful eyes of security agencies in respective states. The non-discriminatory norms will be applicable to all central public sector undertakings, state undertakings and independent power producers.

Based on inputs from security and intelligence agencies, the government earlier considered identifying a negative list of countries that will be barred from participating in any project in sensitive border areas. This could have applied to countries like China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and a few Gulf countries.

Apart from regulating companies under its administrative control, the new guidelines also empower the Union Ministry of Power to direct state governments to incorporate certain conditions while allotting sites for hydro electric projects to developers. The projects located in Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern states, including Sikkim, or within an aerial distance of 50 km on the Indian side of the international border will come under the ambit of new guidelines.