The Government has made its stance on pending or slow environmental clearances clear, with new Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar making it clear that delays in green clearances will not be tolerated.
While the environmentalists agree that the system of green clearances needs to be changed, the solution, they say, is not just to speed up clearances but also to change the system.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday urged the new administration to put in place one independent green regulator, as ordered earlier by the Supreme Court as well.
It also highlighted the need for consolidating all clearances — environment, forests, coastal and wildlife — to ensure that clearances are given after analysing the overall impact of projects.