Draft Notification with regard to amendment of EIA Notification 2006.

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-30072026-274972 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 3996] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026/SHRAVAN 6, 1948 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 27th July, 2026 S.O. 4166(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: diriapolicy- [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, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs) have been constituted under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for implementation of the EIA Notification, 2006 at State level for exercising delegated powers to consider and grant Environmental Clearance (EC) for all proposals under Category B; And whereas, the authority to grant EC to all minor mineral mining projects irrespective of mine lease area have been delegated to the SEIAA level. Further, regulation of mining activities, including prevention of illegal mining, falls primarily within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the rules framed thereunder. And whereas, the SEIAAs have gained substantial experience over the past two decades in the EC appraisal process and the process at the State level has also been made completely online through the PARIVESH portal for efficient and transparent disposal of EC proposals. Further, the Central Government also constitutes additional State level Expert Appraisal Committees (SEACs) to assist the SEIAAs for granting ECs; And whereas, the eligibility criteria such as qualifications and experience etc., for experts nominated in the EACs and SEACs are identical and are governed by the Appendix VI of the EIA Notification, 2006. In this regard, it is a fact that equal level of expertise is available in the SEACs as compared to the EACs. And whereas, the States have already been delegated powers for appraising 500 ha., of coal mining projects. The impact on environment of non-coal mining projects is less as compared to coal mining. Further, the Ministry is in receipt of a request from Ministry of Mines for delegating non-coal mining projects having lease areas up to 500 ha., to the SEIAA/SEAC level, in line with the existing provisions for coal mining projects. In this regard, the Central Government deems it necessary to further decentralise the EC process with regard to non-coal mining projects, by raising the threshold of delegation from 250 ha. to 500 ha., as done in coal mining projects, for facilitating clearances at State level. Now, therefore, in exercise of 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, in the Schedule, – Against item 1(a),- a. in column (3),– for ">250 ha", the following shall be substituted, namely “>500 ha”; b. in column (4),- for "≤ 250 ha", the following shall be substituted, namely “≤ 500 ha” [F. No. IA3-19/39/2025-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. 3862(E), dated the 13th July, 2026.