Because these were not listed in its Schedule, the Union environment ministry has said that no prior environmental clearance under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, is needed to set up heliports and helipads.
Experts said while helipads and heliports are not explicitly mentioned under the notification, building and construction projects over 20,000 sqms still require an EC. “So if the built-up area of the helipad or heliport is above 20,000 sqm, it will still require an EC as per 8(a) of the Schedule. In a reply in parliament on August 6, the ministry had earlier clarified how Artificial Intelligence (AI) data Centres do not require EC under the EIA Notification, 2006, specifying the only exception was the area.
This is the same case with data centres currently,” said Debadityo Sinha, lead, climate and ecosystems at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. “However, AI Data Centres proposed as part of a “Building and Construction Project” under Item 8(a), i.e. built up area exceeding 20,000 sq. m or a “Township and Area Development Project” i.e. covering an area ≥ 50 ha and /or built up area ≥ 1,50,000 sq. m under Item 8(b) of the schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006 require prior EC,” it had said.
