Integrated regional office of Union environment ministry commences work
Shimla | TNR
People in Himachal seeking clearance under Forest Conservation Act (FCA) would no longer have to wait for years for approval from the Dehradun office in Uttarakhand because an integrated regional office of Union environment, forest and climate change ministry has been opened in Shimla.
The office has started operation
The integrated regional office in Shimla has already started functioning and a few approvals, pertaining to land holdings of five hectares and less have been granted by it to applicants. However, applications pertaining to more than 5 hectares of land are still being sent to the Dehradun office for clearance.
Relief for Himachal residents
The opening of the integrated regional office is a relief for residents of Himachal who had to earlier wait for years for clearance from the Union ministry for a variety of projects. The existing Forest Survey of India (FSI) office in Shimla has been converted into the integrated regional office. The staff is being trained by technical officers from Dehradun so that they are able to grant the approvals.
Similar integrated offices opened in 9 other cities
Apart from Shimla, integrated regional offices have been opened up in nine other cities. The Shimla office is the first to commence its work.
Additional charge of Shimla office to DIG
Shimla integrated regional office in charge Satya Prakash Negi informed that the Centre has given the additional charge of the Shimla office to Union environment, forest and climate change office, Dehradun, DIG TC Nautiyal.
Nautiyal would be shunting between Dehradun and Shimla to grant approvals.
