Star-rating System for State Environmental Bodies:
The Centre has dropped the star-rating system for state environmental bodies after a legal challenge by a Tamil Nadu fishermen’s association, as per an order by the National Green Tribunal’s southern bench.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) introduced a star-rating system to evaluate State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs). The purpose was to assess their efficiency in granting clearances for industrial and infrastructure projects.
- The star ratings ranged from 0 to 7, with higher ratings reflecting:
- Faster approval times
- Stricter adherence to timelines set out in the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification
- The Ministry’s aim was to streamline the environmental clearance process to foster a more business-friendly environment, while also maintaining regulatory standards.
- The star-rating system was designed to:
- Recognize and incentivize states that adhered to timelines and regulatory standards.
- Encourage environmental bodies to expedite the clearance process without compromising the environment.
- The introduction of the star-rating system faced significant opposition, particularly from environmental advocacy groups.
- The Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Association argued that the star-rating system could compromise the scrutiny of environmental clearances.
- Their concern was that the emphasis on speeding up the clearance process could dilute the thoroughness required in assessing projects that may impact environmentally sensitive areas.
- They emphasized the risk of weakening the environmental safeguards essential for protecting local ecosystems, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.
- The dispute led to intervention by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT issued an order noting that the MoEF&CC had effectively “given up” on the system.
- The Ministry withdrew the original Office Memorandum (OM) dated January 17, 2022, with a possibility of issuing a revised memorandum in the future.
