Environment Ministry Extends General Approval for Creation of Public Utility Infrastructure in Left-Wing Extremism Affected Districts

Environment Ministry Extends General Approval for Creation of Public Utility Infrastructure in Left-Wing Extremism Affected Districts 


Realising the importance of developmental activities in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, the general approval as contained in the Ministry of Environment and Forest letter, dated 13th May, 2011, has been extended up to December 31, 2018, as per the extant terms and conditions. 

In an effort to expedite the creation of public utility infrastructure in 60 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts identified by the Planning Commission for implementation of the Integrated Action Plan (IAP), the Ministry of Environment & Forests, vide letter dated May 13, 2011, had accorded general approval under section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, for creation of critical public utility infrastructure by government departments, not involving more than 5.00 hectares of forest land. This provision was further extended to a total of 117 LWE affected districts. The approval was valid upto December 31, 2015. 

The general approval was granted, keeping in view the importance of creation of public utility infrastructure such as schools, dispensaries/hospitals, electric and telecommunication lines, drinking water projects, water/rainwater harvesting structures, minor irrigation canals, non-conventional sources of energy, skill up-gradation / vocational training centres, power sub-stations, rural roads, communication posts, police establishments like police stations/outposts / border outposts / watch towers, in sensitive areas identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It also includes underground laying of optical fibre cables, telephone lines & drinking water supply lines in Left-Wing Extremism affected areas. 

In addition to the large number of road widening and improvement projects, police infrastructure projects, drinking water and power transmission projects, a number of important projects like construction of government polytechnic at Bagodhar in Giridih, Jharkhand, construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya at Deogarh , Odisha, Sloni Kanya Ashram Project and Magarlodha Boys School Project in Dhamtari, Chattisgarh, women ITI training centre in Kanker, Chattisgarh, construction of government medical college at Kudwa, Gondia, Maharashtra , Vocational Bamboo Research and Training Centre at Chandrapur, Maharshtra and establishment of Telangana School of horticulture in Medak, Telangana, have also benefited from this general approval in recent years.