Real estate relief for developers

Much has happened after the TOI first reported, on February 26, that the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), directed by the courts, had revoked no objection certificates (NOCs) of all residential projects cleared by it with Annexure P 9 since January 17, 2006.

Now it seems there's some good news in store for developers. The recent ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) notification is going to change the fate of a lot of residential projects and according to sources, project files pending environment clearance at the Centre will be sent back to the respective states.

Under the new notification, building and construction projects under Section 8 (a), more than 20,000 sq. mtrs and less than 1,50,000 sq. mtrs of built up area shall no longer need such clearance.

But townships and area development projects covering an area of more than 50 hectares or built up area of more than 1,50,000 sq. mtrs __ that come under 8(b) __ shall be appraised by state authorities and the Centre will subsequently constitute a three-member committee to give the green signal.

In Punjab, four projects have so far received their papers back from the MoEF saying the projects, covered under the new 2006 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), don't require an EIA clearance.

Resource://indiatimes.com