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152 INDIA'S HYDROCARBON OUTLOOK 2024-2025

• 2023 This technology-friendly move aligns Indian
policy with global best practices.
April2023: Provision for Split Transfer of
ECs - As per EIA Notification amendment • 2022
(S.O. 1832(E) dated 21.04.2023), a prior EC
(except for mining projects) may now be: November 2022: Separate Category for
"Mining of Mineral Oil" on PARIVESH
Split among multiple legal entities.
In response to DGH’s proposal, MoEF&CC
Transferred to another legal entity created a distinct classification for oil and
via a simple application through gas projects under the PARIVESH portal.
the PARIVESH portal, subject to This distinction from conventional mining
Regulatory Authority approval and EAC ensures that FC application formats and
recommendation. workflows are sector-relevant and user-
friendly.
This enhances business flexibility in asset
transfer and joint development models. • 2023

• 2024 June 2023: Notification of Forest
(Conservation) Rules, 2023
G.S.R. 703 (E) dated 12-11-2024 and G.S.R.702
(E) dated 12-11-2024 which exempts from Key reforms under the new rules include:
obtaining CTE separately.
Project Screening Committees (PSCs)
8.3.7 Forest Clearance (FC) at the State/UT level to pre-screen
applications.
Forest Clearance (FC), governed by the Forest
(Conservation) Act, 1980, is mandatory for Regional Empowered Committees
diverting forest land for non-forest purposes. (RECs) empowered to appraise and
Several reforms in the past six years have greatly recommend mid-size projects (up to 40
eased procedural complexities for the E&P ha) and linear infrastructure projects.
sector.
Delinking of PEL/PML from FC where
• 2019 no physical intervention is involved.

September 2019: Guidelines for Seismic Creation of Land Banks for Compensatory
Surveys in Forest Areas Afforestation (CA), allowing CA in other
States under consent-based flexibility.
MoEF&CC clarified via OM dated 30.09.2019
that: Accredited Compensatory Afforestation
(ACA): Private landowners can now raise
Up to 80 shot holes per sq km with max plantations and offer them to project
size 6.5 inches are permissible. developers, and these are also eligible

Permission for seismic surveys may be for Green Credits under the Green
Credit Policy Rules, 2023.
granted at the State level, and approval
under Section 2(iii) of the FCA is not 8.3.8 Advances vis-à-vis Protected Areas
required at the time of PEL grant. (PAs)
• 2021 Protected Areas, including national parks

August 2021: Non-applicability of FCA to and wildlife sanctuaries, are surrounded by
Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) where regulated
development is allowed. Clearance for oil and
After technical consultations with DGH and gas projects near PAs often hinges on the final
industry stakeholders, MoEF&CC clarified notification of ESZs, and approval from the
that ERD wells, which drill laterally into National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
forest areas from outside, do not require FC,
provided certain conditions are met (OM In 2019, DGH identified 52 Protected
dated 12.09.2023). Areas near high-potential E&P zones for
prioritization of ESZ finalization.