New Delhi: The country’s top bureaucrat, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan (IAS:1987:TN), has highlighted the major hurdles in implementing India’s ambitious infrastructure projects, while assuring that development will not come at the cost of democracy.
Addressing a rare press conference on Friday, Somanathan outlined the progress made under the PM-led project clearance panel and provided insights into ongoing challenges, particularly related to land acquisition and forest and wildlife clearances.
Rs 85 Lakh Crore Projects Cleared, States and Centre Collaborate
Somanathan disclosed that projects worth Rs 85 lakh crore have so far been cleared by the Prime Minister-led panel, reflecting strong collaboration between state governments and the Centre to resolve implementation issues.
He emphasized that while the country is progressing rapidly in infrastructure development, the principles of democracy and legal procedures will not be compromised.
Land Acquisition and Forest Clearances: The Main Bottlenecks
The Cabinet Secretary identified land acquisition and forest and wildlife clearances as the primary reasons for project delays. He shared data under the multi-layer Pragati review initiative:
- Total issues raised under Pragati: 7,735
- 35% of issues pertained to land acquisition
- 20% related to wildlife and forest clearances
Of 382 projects reviewed in 50 meetings chaired by PM Narendra Modi, nearly two-thirds of the issues involved land or forest-related hurdles.
- Sector-Wise Impact
- Roads: 114 projects
- Railways: 109 projects
- Power: 54 projects
Somanathan noted that at least half of the issues in railways and roads are due to land acquisition challenges.
Pragati Initiative Accelerates Issue Resolution
Commenting on the impact of PM Modi’s project review mechanism, Somanathan said that, on average, one issue is resolved every working day after being reviewed under Pragati, significantly accelerating project implementation.
Manoj Govil (IAS:1991:MP), Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat, added that the average time for forest and wildlife clearance has dropped from over 600 days to around 75 days, highlighting the effectiveness of streamlined procedures.
Land Acquisition Policy Will Remain Unchanged
Addressing calls from parts of the business community to revise the land acquisition policy—with some suggesting India adopt a model similar to China—Somanathan ruled out any changes. He stated that development will continue within the framework of India’s democratic and legal processes, reinforcing that infrastructure progress should not compromise landowners’ rights or environmental safeguards.
Conclusion
The Cabinet Secretary’s briefing underscores that while India’s infrastructure projects are progressing at an unprecedented scale, challenges remain primarily around land and environmental approvals. The Pragati initiative and regular reviews by the Prime Minister are proving effective in resolving bottlenecks, ensuring faster project execution without undermining democratic principles or sustainability considerations.
