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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-22052026-272786
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 2501]
NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2026/VAISAKHA 30, 1948
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th May, 2026
S.O. 2593(E).— WHEREAS, the Central Government proposes to issue following draft notification in
exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) and accordingly, the same is hereby published, as required under sub-rule (3) of
rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, for the information of the public likely to be affected thereby; and
notice is hereby given that the said draft notification shall be taken into consideration on or after the expiry of a period
of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing this notification are made available to the
Public;
Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposal contained in the draft
notification may forward the same in writing for consideration of the Central Government within the period so
specified to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh
Road, Aliganj, New Delhi-110 003, or send it at the e-mail address: [email protected].
Draft Notification
S.O._____(E).— WHEREAS, the Central Government in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, in
exercise of its powers under sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section (3) of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 has published the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 (hereinafter referred to
as the said notification), vide number S.O.1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 for mandating prior environmental
clearance (EC) for certain category of projects covered in the schedule of the notification;
And whereas, based on the past experiences, the Central Government from time to time has rationalised the
validity period of Environmental Clearances (EC), especially for projects and activities which have high gestation
period due to various issues which are often beyond the control of the project proponent;
And whereas, the Ministry has received a request to rationalise the validity period of the ECs granted to Ports
and Harbours, which is currently valid for an initial period of 10 years which may be extended for a further period of
1 year;
And whereas, the matter was referred to the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee for examination. The
sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee after due deliberation recommended that the validity period of the ECs granted
to Ports and Harbours may be revised as valid for an initial period of 15 years, which may be extended for a period of
5 years;
And whereas, the recommendations of the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee was referred to the Expert
Advisory Committee for examination. The Committee was of the opinion that, considering the long gestation and
phased development characteristic of Port and Harbour projects, the validity period of EC granted to ports and
harbours need to be rationalised as the existing 10+1 years validity appears to be insufficient;
And whereas, after detailed deliberation, the Expert Advisory Committee also recommended that the validity
period of EC for Ports and Harbours, may be revised as an initial period of 15 years which may extended for a
maximum period of not more than 5 years after due examination and recommendations of the sectoral EAC/SEACs;
And whereas, the recommendations of the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee and the Expert Advisory
Committee were examined in the Ministry. Based on the recommendations of the Committees, the Ministry deems it
appropriate to rationalise the validity period of the ECs granted to Ports and Harbours;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2)
of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in
the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, number S.O.
1533(E), dated the 14th September, 2006, namely:-
In the said notification,-
1. in paragraph 9, in sub-paragraph (ii) (b), the following shall be inserted after the existing entries, namely:-
“and Ports, harbors, break waters, dredging [ item 7(e) of the schedule]"
2. in paragraph 9, in sub-paragraph (ii) (c), after the words "Nuclear power projects", the following shall be
inserted, namely:-
“and Ports, harbors, break waters, dredging [item 7(e) of the schedule]"
3. in paragraph 9, in sub-paragraph (iii), in the proviso, after the words “Nuclear power projects and processing
of nuclear fuel", the following shall be inserted, namely:-
“and Ports, harbors, break waters, dredging [item 7(e) of the schedule]"
[F. No. IA3-22/8/2026-IA.III]
RAJAT AGARWAL, Jt. Secy.
Note: The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section
(ii) vide, number S.O. 1533(E), dated the 14th September, 2006 and last amended vide the notification number
S.O. 289(E) dated 28th January 2026.
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