environmental clearance (EC)

Environmental Clearance (EC) — also called Prior Environmental Clearance — is the formal pre-construction approval issued by MoEFCC or the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) under the EIA Notification 2006 (as amended), permitting a major industrial project to proceed. EC is distinct from and additional to SPCB Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO), and it is required only for projects falling within Schedule I of the EIA Notification — large-scale operations whose environmental impact warrants formal Environmental Impact Assessment.

Project categorisation under the EIA Notification drives EC requirements. Category A projects (large-scale, severe environmental implications) require central MoEFCC EC after appraisal by the Expert Appraisal Committee. Category B projects (medium-scale) require state SEIAA EC after appraisal by the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC). Within Category B, projects above a defined sub-threshold (B1) require full EIA studies and public consultation, while smaller B2 projects qualify for streamlined assessment. For CBG and recycling sectors, the relevant thresholds are: WtE plants above 25 TPD or 1 MW capacity require EC; pyrolysis units handling more than 10 TPD trigger Category B; ETP capacities above defined limits and large-scale solid waste processing facilities also fall in scope.

The EC process typically takes 8–24 months depending on category, with sequential steps: Terms of Reference (ToR) issuance after pre-EIA scoping meeting, baseline data collection across one season, EIA report preparation, public consultation (Category A and B1), EAC/SEAC technical appraisal, and final EC grant by MoEFCC/SEIAA. Total cost runs ₹15–60 lakh for a typical CBG or pyrolysis project, including third-party EIA consultant fees, baseline monitoring lab costs, and consultation logistics. EC validity is typically 7 years for construction and ongoing for operations subject to compliance review. Non-compliance with EC conditions can trigger MoEFCC show-cause notices, project closure, and prosecution under the EP Act with personal liability on the occupier.

• Pre-construction approval under EIA Notification 2006, separate from SPCB consent.
• Category A: MoEFCC + EAC; Category B: SEIAA + SEAC; B1 requires EIA + public consultation.
• CBG/WtE projects above 25 TPD or 1 MW; pyrolysis above 10 TPD typically require EC.
• Process 8–24 months, cost ₹15–60 lakh, 7-year construction validity, ongoing operational compliance.