Environmental Clearance (EC) for Projects and Industries
Environmental clearance is the prior approval that projects listed in the EIA Notification, 2006 need before any construction or land preparation begins. Category A projects are cleared by the MoEFCC and Category B projects by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), with every application filed on PARIVESH 2.0. We handle the filing and follow-up, alongside your accredited EIA consultant.
What it is
Environmental clearance, usually called EC, is the government’s written go-ahead for a project, given after its likely impact on the environment has been studied. It is needed only for activities listed in the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006, such as mining, thermal power, cement, distilleries and large building projects. And it must come first: before any construction or land preparation, other than securing the land.
The notification is issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and splits projects into Category A, decided by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on the advice of an Expert Appraisal Committee, and Category B, decided by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on the advice of the State Expert Appraisal Committee. Since the guidelines of 25 January 2024, PARIVESH 2.0 (parivesh.nic.in) is the default portal for environment, forest, wildlife and CRZ clearances.
Who it applies to
Large projects go to the MoEFCC
Large projects in the Schedule, appraised centrally by the MoEFCC. A Category B project is also appraised as Category A if any part of it lies within 5 km of a protected area, a critically polluted area, an eco-sensitive area or an inter-state or international boundary (10 km for some sectors).
Smaller projects go to the SEIAA
After screening, projects that need a full EIA report are B1. The rest are B2, appraised without an EIA report or public hearing.
Big buildings need EC too
Under item 8(a), a building project with a built-up area of 20,000 sq m up to below 1,50,000 sq m needs EC from the SEIAA. A Faridabad developer planning a 25,000 sq m commercial complex, for example, files with SEIAA Haryana. Townships fall under item 8(b).
Why it matters
Start work only after EC
Work on site before EC is a violation. Even levelling the land counts. Banks usually ask to see the EC letter before they release funds, so it belongs in your project report for the bank loan file.
Skip a separate CTE
Under the MoEFCC changes announced on 14 November 2024, an industry that holds EC does not need a separate Consent to Establish from the pollution control board, though the CTE fee is still payable.
Expand within your approval
Raising production beyond the capacity in your EC needs fresh approval. Picture a chemical unit in Faridabad that wants to double output: the new line waits for the EC, not the other way round.
Documents required
About the project
- Form 1 (and Form 1A for building and construction projects)
- Pre-feasibility report, or a conceptual plan for building projects
- Production capacity, raw materials, water and power needs
About the land
- Ownership or lease documents
- Site layout and location map with coordinates
- Distance from protected areas, eco-sensitive zones and state boundaries
From the consultant and company
- EIA report and Environmental Management Plan (B1 and A projects)
- Public hearing proceedings, where held
- Board resolution or authorisation for the signatory
- Company incorporation documents and PAN
How it works
Check the category
We match your project to the Schedule and work out whether it is A, B1 or B2. Here is the catch: a Category B project in Faridabad within 5 km of the Delhi or Uttar Pradesh boundary is appraised as Category A. Location matters as much as size.
Get the terms of reference fixed
For A and B1 projects, the committee sets the terms of reference for the EIA study within 30 days of accepting the application. Standard ToR published by the Ministry can be treated as approved.
Prepare the EIA and hold the public hearing
An EIA consultant accredited by NABET under the Quality Council of India prepares the EIA report and EMP. The state pollution control board, HSPCB in Haryana, holds the public hearing within 45 days of the request.
Answer the appraisal committee
The committee appraises the final EIA within 60 days and the authority conveys its decision within 45 days of the recommendation. We track queries on PARIVESH and reply on time.
Keep the EC clean
Every EC comes with conditions. In practice, most trouble starts after approval, when half-yearly compliance reports slip. We keep the calendar so none is missed.
Timelines
Terms of reference
Within 30 days of the application being accepted. If standard ToR applies, the EIA study can start straight away.
Public hearing
Held by the state board within 45 days of the request. Building, B2 and approved industrial-estate projects are exempt.
Appraisal and decision
Appraisal within 60 days of the final EIA report, then the decision within 45 days: about 105 days in all.
Validity of EC
Since S.O. 1807(E) of 12 April 2022: 10 years for most projects, 13 years for river valley projects and 15 years for nuclear projects. Mining EC is linked to the project life.
Compliance reports
Half-yearly, filed online on PARIVESH. The reports are public documents.
Environment Statement
Units holding consent under the Water or Air Act also file Form V with the state board by 30 September each year.
What happens if you start without EC
Penalty under Section 15
Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provides a penalty of not less than ₹10,000, extending up to ₹15 lakh, plus ₹10,000 for every day the contravention continues.
Closure directions
Under Section 5 of the same Act, authorities can direct closure of the unit or stoppage of electricity and water supply.
Rejection for false data
Under para 8(vi) of the notification, concealing facts or giving false data can lead to rejection of the application and cancellation of an EC already granted.
Frequently asked questions
Who grants environmental clearance in Haryana?
Category B projects in Haryana are cleared by SEIAA Haryana on the recommendation of the State Expert Appraisal Committee, while Category A projects go to the MoEFCC in New Delhi. A Category B project within 5 km of an inter-state boundary is appraised as Category A, which matters for many Faridabad and Gurugram sites close to Delhi or Uttar Pradesh. We confirm the authority before filing.
What is the difference between Category B1 and B2?
B1 projects need a full EIA report and usually a public hearing, while B2 projects are appraised without either. The SEIAA decides this at the screening stage, using Form 1 and the documents you file. Building and construction projects under item 8(a) are commonly handled without a public hearing. After screening, we tell you exactly which reports your consultant must prepare.
Can we start construction while the EC is pending?
No. The EIA Notification, 2006 requires prior EC before any construction work or preparation of land, except securing the land itself. Excavation or levelling can be treated as a start. Starting early invites a penalty of ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act. The safe course is to finish the land deal, then wait for the EC letter before work begins.
Who prepares the EIA report?
Only an environmental consultant organisation accredited with NABET under the Quality Council of India, for that sector and category, can prepare the EIA report and EMP. The consultant also presents the report before the appraisal committee. We are not EIA consultants. We work alongside the accredited consultant you choose, handle the PARIVESH filing and keep the documents in order, so each side does what it is qualified to do.
How long is an environmental clearance valid?
Since S.O. 1807(E) of 12 April 2022, EC is valid for 10 years for most projects, 13 years for river valley projects and 15 years for nuclear projects. Mining EC is linked to the life of the project. Validity counts from the date of the EC letter. If you are nearing the end without starting work, ask us early, because extension requests must reach the authority within validity.
Do we still need a Consent to Establish after getting EC?
No separate CTE is needed if your project holds EC, under the reforms the MoEFCC announced on 14 November 2024, but the CTE fee is still payable to the state board. You will still need Consent to Operate from HSPCB before production starts. We plan both together so the EC and consent conditions match.
Does an expansion need a fresh EC?
Yes, if production capacity goes beyond what the existing EC allows. Under para 7(ii), the application is made in Form 1 and the committee considers it within 60 days, deciding whether a fresh EIA and public consultation are needed. Expanding first and applying later is treated as a violation. Share your expansion plan with us early and we will map the approval route before you place orders for machinery.
What happens after the EC is granted?
You must follow every condition in the EC letter and file half-yearly compliance reports on PARIVESH. These reports become public documents, so any gap is visible to anyone who looks. We keep a compliance calendar for you, collect monitoring results from your accredited lab and file each report on time, so your EC record stays clean.
Is EC required for a factory in an industrial estate?
It depends on what the factory makes, not where it stands. If the activity is in the Schedule, EC is needed, though projects inside an industrial estate that already holds EC are exempt from a separate public hearing. Many small units in Faridabad’s industrial sectors are not scheduled at all and need only HSPCB consent. Tell us your product and capacity and we will confirm which approvals apply.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The EIA consultant’s and laboratory’s fees are separate and paid directly to them.
Ready to begin?
Share your project, location and capacity, and we will confirm the EC category and the approval path before you spend on site.