During the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, environmental clearance was granted to 20 infrastructure projects and activities, either wholly or partly located within Protected Areas (PAs) or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)/Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESAs), the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Responding to a query in the Upper House, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said the existing regulatory framework prescribes project-specific environmental safeguards as part of the environmental clearance conditions to avoid, minimise and mitigate adverse environmental impacts.