The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has clarified that linear projects will be able to get forest clearance without procuring the consent of all gram sabhas of the villages that they pass through.

The proposal to clear the major hurdle in the forest clearance process for linear projects like roads, transmission lines and pipelines was put forward by the Cabinet Committee on Investments in February 2013.

Linear projects are generally passed through a large number of villages. A number of projects get delayed, as obtaining consent of each gram sabha is time consuming.

The format for linear projects requires a certificate from the district collector stating that all relevant gram sabhas have consented to the diversion of forest land, and the process of identifying and settling forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act has been completed.