Environment mnister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday that the ministry not blocking construction work of national highways in the country.
"Ministry of environment and forests has cleared 98 per cent national highway projects, only those cases where the project passes through tiger corridor or dense forest area we have not approved it," Ramesh told reporters after the seventh convocation of the Indian Institute of Forest Management.
He denied the charge that he is acting as a blockade on the national highway projects. However, there were instances when in a number of cases the concerned ministry has bypassed forest and environment clearance, the minister said.
Aasked to specify such projects which are passing through tiger corridor or forest areas, Ramesh said that one is in Madhya Pradesh and the other is in Assam.
On the issue of giving environmental clearance to Maheshwar Hydro Power Project in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, the minister said only one (Jalud) out of the total 22 villages have been rehabilitated so far.
"We have asked the state government to comment on the issue and after that only we will take a view on it," Ramesh said.
Asked about the disposal of toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, he said, the Pollution Control Board is considering to dispose it at Pithampur. A decision on the matter will be taken soon, Ramesh said.
