Policy change demanded as 850 projects await green nod

Members of the state legislative council have demanded to increase the limit to 20,000 Sq. mtrs (built-up area) for construction projects that need environment clearance. Currently, 850 residential projects of 20,000 sq mts stuck for want of green clearances.

Assuring members in the legislative council on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the state would approach union environment ministry to bring an amendment in the rules to increase this limit.

Earlier during a discussion on the issue, BJP's Ashish Shelar said, "People invest their hard earned money in these projects. When they get delayed it amounts to loss of public money." Shelar said most of the projects nowadays have an area of more than 20,000 sq mts.

Shelar said if the cap is increased, many small projects can move ahead. "This will be huge relief to the common man as files of nearly 135 such projects from Mumbai Metropolitan Region is pending with the department," he said, demanding amendment in the policy.

Nationalist Congress Party members Jaywantrao Jadhav, Anil Bhosale and Abdullakhan Durrani demanded to know from state environment minister Sanjay Devtale whether the Maharashtra government has received complaints regarding perennial delays in such clearances.