The National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) has simplified the environmental clearance process with the endorsement of several reforms today.
According to NECS, the reforms will ease the environmental assessment process and promote efficient and timely delivery of public services.
One of the reforms is the simplification of the Initial Environment Examination (IEE) forms. IEE forms have been revised and reduced from eight forms consisting of 10 pages each to nine forms with about four pages each.
Applicants will also no longer have to get Dzongkhag or Thromde administrative approval along with clearances from relevant agencies while submitting the application for environment clearance. Sectorial clearances will be taken care by specific agencies.
The NECS has also classified projects into green, blue and red categories.
Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi, NECS Secretary said that a project falling under the green category will no require environmental clearance since green projects have a negligible impact on the environment.
The Secretariat has also formulated the Environment Assessment form for Red Category Industrial Projects that have a major impact on the environment.
Section 63 of the Water Regulation 2014 on groundwater abstraction has also been amended. Abstraction will be allowed where there is no other alternative viable water source.
Environment Standards 2010 has also been revised and several new parameters were incorporated. The Standards include ambient air quality, ambient water quality, and noise level limits among others.
Kinley Dem
