The first two weeks of the new year witnessed some positive actions in the infrastructure space. And to everyone's surprise, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has led the way. M Veerappa Moily has swung into action after taking additional charge of MoEF apart from his petroleum and natural gas portfolio.

Vizhinjam port project received the mandatory environment and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The MoEF, while giving clearance for the Rs 4,010-crore project, has stipulated 29 specific and 14 general conditions to be abided by the port authorities. The state government has already floated global tenders for constructing the port.

The Union Ministry of Environment has given its nod to India Cements to double its capacity and set up a 40 mw power plant in Tamil Nadu's Dalavoi in Ariyalur district.

The Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Sarvey Sathyanarayana has recently said in the Lok Sabha that there are only four road projects for which formal Environment Clearance are awaited.

The 35 km Mumbai coastal road project worth Rs Rs 8,000 crore is likely to be put on the fast track and work on the ambitious road project is expected to begin by December next year. The road will run from Nariman Point to Kandivli, and aimed at easing the traffic congestion in western Mumbai.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has given its clearance to the 4,000-MW Cheyyur ultra mega power project in Kancheepuram district and the 1,320 MW Udangudi thermal power project in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu.

Over the multi-crore proposal Vizhinjam international seaport project in Kerala, a battle of petitions is going on right before the Unin Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) expert panel. While some petitions are advocating for the project, some are pleading against the same project.

In a notice, the Union government has directed Adani Port and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) in Mundra to restore all the creeks, water bodies and reclaimed land at the North Port area of the Mundra block in Kutch district to the pre-2005 status within six months.

For its 241 projects, Coal India (CIL) is awaiting environment and forestry clearances. At present, 48 environmental clearance proposals, having a capacity of about 109 million tonne per year, are awaiting clearances at different levels.