FAC: Take steps to fast-track, streamline forest clearances

In a bid to streamline the forest clearance process, the forest advisory committee (FAC) has recommended curbing multiple enquiries for essential details, not insisting on hard copies of project details, and reviewing pendency of forest clearance applications every fortnight.

- Jayashree Nandi

Prior forest and environmental clearance are mandatory for any major industry or infrastructure project which is coming up in or near forest land. FAC, a statutory body under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) has also decided that some proposals need not be referred to it or regional empowered committees (RECs).