India clears 20 infrastructure projects in protected areas, says MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh
During the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, the Government of India granted environmental clearance to 20 infrastructure projects or activities that are wholly or partly located in Protected Areas or Eco‑Sensitive Zones.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha that each clearance is conditioned on project‑specific safeguards, including wildlife protection, habitat conservation, pollution control, compensatory plantation and environmental monitoring. The clearance process involves a multi‑tiered review by the State Chief Wildlife Warden, the State Board for Wildlife, the Ministry and the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife, and projects may only commence after obtaining Wildlife Clearance under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Entities: Kirti Vardhan Singh · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · National Board for Wildlife
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Proposals requiring Wildlife Clearance are examined through a multi‑tiered mechanism involving the State Chief Wildlife Warden, the State Board for Wildlife, the Ministry and the Standing Committee of (Kirti Vardhan Singh)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The clearances include project‑specific environmental safeguards such as wildlife protection, habitat conservation, pollution control, compensatory plantation and environmental monitoring. (Kirti Vardhan Singh)
- [● 2 SOURCES] During the financial years 2024‑25 and 2025‑26, environmental clearance was granted to 20 infrastructure projects or activities wholly or partly in a Protected Area or Eco‑Sensitive Zone. (Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh)
- [● 2 SOURCES] No construction or other project‑related activities can commence without obtaining Wildlife Clearance under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. (Kirti Vardhan Singh)