Centre extends validity period of green nod to ports, harbours to 20 years

The environment ministry has extended the validity period of environmental clearances (ECs) granted for ports, harbours, breakwaters, and dredging projects from the existing 10 years to 20 years, with provisions for two further extensions of up to five years each. The development comes four months after the ministry in May issued a draft notification, proposing to increase the validity of ECs for such projects to 15 years, with an option for a further five-year extension. However, after consultation with stakeholders, it was decided to increase the EC validity to 20 years. In a notification about the changes issued on Monday, the ministry said that the decision was made due to long gestation periods and phased development characteristics of port and harbour projects. The move has drawn sharp reaction from the Congress. In a post on X on Tuesday, senior Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the latest amendment was "done for the proposed transshipment p