Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar Thursday said an online submission system for time-bound clearance of applications and greater transparency has been launched, among the first steps after assuming charge of the ministry.Javadekar, who is a minister of state with independent charge, said the dispensation of applications for environmental clearance earlier had no time-limit, nor were there any checks to see if the applications were being processed."Under the new online submission method, the applications will be first verified and a receipt issued. There would be stage-wise monitoring of the application," said Javadekar.The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had faced flak for delaying environmental clearance to key development projects.
"We will not allow delays to happen," he said at a press conference here after assuming charge of the ministry.
Javadekar, who was the Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, is also minister of state (independent charge) of the information and broadcasting ministry.He said they would review the status of projects inked under the UPA regime.Javadekar also said India would present its case "forcefully" at the 2015 international Conference of Parties on climate change and invited feedback from experts and the media.To a question about the online submissions, Javadekar said the applications will be "secured" and the communication will be visible only to the ministry and the party concerned."We really want to bring down the time line... There will be no compromise on environment protection. We will do due diligence. We will involve the state governments," he said.To another question, he clarified they have not changed the application process and have only made it more transparent and user friendly.The minister said that economic growth and environment protection have to go hand in hand. "We will ensure that environment becomes a public movement," he said.