Environmental clearance requirements might change: Palemar

Mangalore, April 27: District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar has announced that builders of multi-storied structures need not obtain an environmental clearance certificate from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in future as long as the building is within an area of 2 lakh sq. ft. 

The minister was interacting with press people during the inauguration ceremony of City Centre. He further explained his announcement by saying that the government was mulling over increasing the exemption limit for obtaining environmental clearance from the current 20,000 sq. ft. to 2 lakh sq. ft. Environmental clearance, however, is essential for buildings exceeding this limit. 

The minister also said that red category structures need not renew the board’s clearance every year because the government was planning to extend it to five years. The government also proposes to provide clearance for the establishment of orange and green category industries at the district instead of at the state level. 

However, these proposals still require the approval of the board, said the minister.