Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said a special provision of the Constitution grants immunity to port and airport projects from seeking environment and forest clearances and the law ministry's opinion has also been sought on this matter.

The remarks come at a time when projects worth more than Rs 25,000 crore are lying stuck at India's 123 major ports in want of green clearances. "The Constitution of India has a special provision that for airports... and major ports, there is no requirement for environment and forest clearances," the shipping and road transport minister said here.

Stating that the Constitution has made this special provision in view of development of the country, he said that unfortunately, there are a large number of port projects that are stuck in want of environment and forest clearances in the country. "When I got to know about it through a representation, I read the Constitution. ... we met Union Minister of State for Law and Justice P P Chaudhary on this yesterday.