**CREDAI Calls for Faster Environmental Clearances to Boost Real‑Estate Business**
New Delhi – The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has urged the government to provide clearer regulations and quicker processes for environmental clearances (EC) in the real‑estate sector, while insisting that environmental standards should not be relaxed.
The call was made at a high‑level workshop held in New Delhi in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). CREDAI President Shekhar Patel said the industry is not seeking any relaxation in compliance requirements; instead, it wants the timelines for obtaining EC approvals to be shortened.
“We are only seeking a reduction in the timelines for obtaining Environmental Clearance approvals across the country, which will significantly contribute to improving the ease of doing business and enabling the timely execution of real‑estate projects,” Patel told the workshop.
Patel thanked the Ministry and CPCB for their ongoing engagement and constructive dialogue with the industry. The workshop was attended by CREDAI President‑Elect G. Ram Reddy, MoEFCC Joint Secretary Rajat Agarwal and other senior officials.
During the session, the Ministry reaffirmed several facilitative measures, including:
* Phase‑wise Consent to Establish (CTE) that aligns with phased development and is integrated with the EC process.
* Greater consistency in environmental appraisals.
The Ministry also clarified that changes to a project’s conceptual plan that do not increase built‑up area or pollution load may not require an EC amendment, subject to relevant conditions.
The discussion highlighted the need for a balance between rapid project execution and the maintenance of environmental safeguards.
Article and image source: deccanherald.com
