Environmental Clearance is referred to as a procedure that involves obtaining government clearance for certain projects to be developed, or even to modify or to install various projects.

It is mandatory to first get government clearance for projects that can cause high damage to the environment, or cause high environmental pollution of any type. 

This clearance is completely mandatory for areas that are ecologically fragile, regardless of what type of a project it is. 

In layman’s words, we can describe environmental clearance as the clearance of forests, etc. in order to landscape a particular area, for a purpose. The purpose may be setting up of industry, factory or mining operations, etc

In India, it is mandatory for Environmental Clearance to go through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for various different developmental projects. The Government has also made a list of projects that have to mandatorily go through environmental clearance as they are highly polluting in nature. The Central Government, as well as State Governments, have full authority and power and completely regulate this process. 

Types and Categories of Environmental Clearance Regulation

Firstly, there are about 39 types of industrial projects that require mandatory environmental screening and those upcoming projects cover aspects of screening, scoping, and evaluation of the upcoming project. The main purpose of this is solely to assess the impacts of the upcoming project, that it would have on the environment, and how polluting it will be. After assessing the impacts and consequences, it is made sure that it is ensured to minimise the same. 

Environmental Clearances for projects are divided into two categories. 

There are two types of projects for the same:

  1. Category A – These projects require mandatory environmental clearance in order for them to be developed and operated. These projects do not even go through the screening process mostly, as environmental clearance is necessary. Projects falling under this category go to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for clearance.
  2. Category B – These upcoming projects undergo a mandatory screening process. They go to the State Government for clearance. Projects falling under this category get further categorised into two types – B1 & B2. The only difference between these two also is that B2 Type of projects does not need to carry out preparation of the EIA Report. But depending upon the project, the Appraisal Committee can even ask for an EIA study.Â