Single-window clearance for coal

Context: The Union government has announced a new online single window clearance portal for the coal sector to speed up the operationalisation of coal mines.

What is a single-window clearance portal?

• A single window clearance portal is aimed at allowing successful bidders for coal blocks to be able to obtain all required clearances, including environmental and forest clearances, from a single portal with progress monitoring, instead of having to go to multiple authorities.
• The portal should allow successful bidders to operationalise coal mines more quickly.
• Presently, about 19 major approvals, or clearances are required before starting the coal mine in the country.
• In the absence of unified platform for grant of clearances companies were required to approach different departments, leading to delay in operationalization of the coal

How will this help?

• Will help with quicker operationalisation, as obtaining the requisite clearances was taking over 2-3 years for successful bidders in many cases.
• Parivesh mechanism for forest and environment related clearances would likely be merged into the single window clearance mechanism.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-new-single-window-clearance-for-coal-how-will-it-help-7142233/