Bhubaneswar: The urban development authority will relax environment norms to provide speedy clearance to building plans here. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority has segregated various types of buildings and decided to provide environmental clearance accordingly. Besides, an environmental wing with auditors will also be set up to solely look into the environment aspect. "We have notified the amended planning and building standard regulation that mentions lenient environment clearance process. The regulation came into force with the Union ministry's directive and we are ready to implement it now. The new process will benefit the public at large," said a development authority official. According to regulations, a building with a built-up area between 5,000 to 20,000 square metres does need not to apply for environmental clearance, but will have to submit a self-declaration that would be analysed by the environment auditors. In case of buildings with built-up area above 20,000sqm, the auditors will visit the site and provide the clearance within a fortnight. Getting environmental clearance for a building is necessary for final occupancy certificate from the development authority. The clearance is provided based on the size and possible impact on the environment. "For commercial establishments, the norms will remain the same where clearance can only be obtained from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board. We have made the building plan approval system easy," said the official. Welcoming the move, Chandrasekharpur resident Minaketan Sahoo: "I applied for building plan approval for my house two years ago and it took almost six months to get everything done. I did the same for my nephew recently and this time I got fast replies. It is good for us," said.