Wed Feb 12 18:33:03 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Seeks Faster Approvals for Development Projects

**Chennai, February 13, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu government is pushing for expedited environmental clearances for its growing infrastructure projects. To achieve this, it has proposed the establishment of an additional State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, who also holds the Environment portfolio, presented the proposal to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav during a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. The proposal comes as the current SEAC and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) terms expire in April. The state government is requesting swift approval for the reconstitution of these panels.

Beyond the additional SEAC, Tamil Nadu also seeks funding for two significant environmental projects. A ₹27.53 crore project, submitted under the National Action Plan on Climate Change and Green India Mission, aims to create a “green shield” in Thoothukudi district to combat coastal erosion using nature-based solutions. Separately, a ₹74.4 crore proposal has been submitted to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for the relocation of Thengumarahada village, currently situated within the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. This relocation aims to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

Minister Thennarasu expressed gratitude for the Union Ministry’s recent exemption of environmental clearance for industrial sheds up to 1.50 lakh sq.m., a move he said will boost industrial development in the state.

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