ITANAGAR: Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests (Independent Charge) Prakash Javadekar has assured Arunachal Pradesh to expedite forest clearance for the 3000 MW Dibang Hydropower Project in the State. Javadekar’s assurance came when Chief Minister Nabam Tuki called on him at New Delhi yesterday, a communique from the CMO said here today. The minister during the meeting informed that his ministry was in the process of overhauling the entire forest and environment clearance mechanism so as to speed up the implementation of hydropower projects in the State. He further informed that a decision to extend the norms of no green clearance for road projects within 100 km of the international border, to other infrastructure development projects was under active consideration of his ministry. The ministry recently had taken an important decision stating that Defence Ministry need not come to the Centre to get green clearances for constructing border roads and strategically important projects coming within 100 km of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). A decision on environmental and forest clearances on building defence infrastructure in areas in the 100 km–range from the LAC can be taken by the State governments concerned, Javadekar had said. While appreciating the pro–active initiative of the Chief Minister, he assured him that Arunachal Pradesh along with the other North Eastern States was in priority list and his ministry was also formulating a new policy mechanism for proper disbursal of CAFMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds. Expressing gratefulness on behalf of the people of the State, Tuki said that Arunachal Pradesh was particularly going to benefit from this new norm in view of its long international border (1680 km). Discussing various issues of the State related to the ministry Tuki apprised Javadekar about the bottlenecks faced by the State in implementation of hydropower projects especially in obtaining forest clearances and other technical approvals. In a detailed representation submitted to Javadekar, he highlighted the policy interventions required with reference to environmental flow issue, frequent over–riding of Terms of References (ToRs) necessity revision of existing DPRs, land disbursal issues among others, the communique said. The Chief Minister reiterated the broader objective of harnessing the hydropower sector in the State for the benefit of the entire country and called for easing of existing norms and procedures of the ministry. Tuki also discussed other issues like release of funds under CAFMPA to the State Forest Department. “The State intends to increase the forest cover to 90 per cent by stepping up afforestation and reforestation programmes under ‘Green India Mission’ as mitigative measures against climate change. Benefits of these measures shall accrue to the country and humanity as a whole,” he asserted. Tuki further submitted a copy of the Memorandum to the minister, which he had submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. As Javadekar also holds the portfolio of Information & Broadcasting, Tuki requested proper institutional infrastructure in the State under the ministry for welfare of local journalists. Javadekar assured that the ministry was working towards this and would soon make an announcement for the media community of Arunachal Pradesh, the communique added.