In a letter to NHAI, the National Highways Builders Federation (NHBF) recommended that highway projects should not be called for bids before securing requisite clearances, for land acquisition, environment, forest and wildlife.
NHBF is a lobby body for highway developers and the letter is also addressed to the Highway Ministry and Finance Ministry on January 9.
The federation said lenders to highway projects want all requisite approvals in place before extending loans. Therefore, the obligation of getting clearances should be a pre-condition for NHAI, the letter said.
The pre-condition of making available 100 per cent right of way together with environmental or forest or wildlife clearances by lending agencies should be applicable to the Authority, the letter reads.
NHBF has about 80 highway developers as members, such as Larsen and Toubro; GMR, Shapoorji Pallonji and Srei Infra.
In mid-2012, banks started demanding entire land before transferring money to the projects. For over 20 projects, even the requisite 80 per cent land is not available. The other demands include allowing quarrying for areas below five hectares, particularly for highway projects.
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