Mumbai: The government has made environmental clearance mandatory for setting up special economic zones (SEZ).

Establishing SEZs now requires prior environmental clearances as per the provisions of the environment impact assessment notification, 2006, minister of state for forests and environment Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

"Accordingly, the project authorities are required to undertake an environment impact assessment (EIA) study based on which the proposal is considered for environment clearance," Meena said.

Denying that coastal regulation zones are being constantly violated in states like Goa the minister said his ministry has constituted a Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority for monitoring and enforcing the provisions of the coastal regulation zone notification 1991 and the approved coastal zone management plan of Goa.

Meena said his ministry is implementing the national afforestation programme (NAP) scheme through decentralised a set up of the forest development authority at the division level and joint forest management committees at the village level, for regeneration and improvement of forests and adjoining lands.

No study has, however, been undertaken so far about the impact of SEZs on environment, Meena informed the house.