India's Hydrocarbon Outlook – 2022-2023

170 DGH: 3 DECADES OF UNLOCKING INDIA'S HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), has implemented a variety of measures to facilitate and expedite the issuance of clearances related to the environment. These measures include the issuance of Environmental Clearances, Forest Clearances and Coastal Zone Clearances to E&P operators. A slew of initiatives has been taken up by DGH, since 2019, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in a bid to streamline and fast track the grant of environment-related clearances. The efforts made by DGH and the probable outcomesofthesameintermsofpolicy/guideline- making are detailed below in a chronological fashion for ease of comprehension. Further, the policy changes are being categorised according to the types of clearances obtained: A slew of initiatives has been taken up by DGH in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in a bid to streamline and fast track the grant of environment-related clearances. 8.1 Environment Clearance: 8.1.1 Year 2019: May 2019: Streamlining Grant of Approvals for Oil Exploration: A Committee headed by Vice-chairman, NITI Aayog and comprising of Cabinet Secretary, Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Chairman & Managing Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation was constituted in October, 2018 for suggesting reforms in Exploration & Production (E&P) Sector to enhance domestic Oil & Gas Exploration and Production. The Committee, in its report inter-alia recommended constitution of an Empowered Coordination Committee (ECC) under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary for streamlining and expediting grant of approval/ clearances. Empowered Coordination Committee (ECC) was constituted in May, 2019 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, for considering matters relating to delay in granting various clearances, approvals etc. Pursuant to the ECC meetings, following steps have been taken: I. Petroleum Exploration Licenses (PELs) have been granted in all Blocks awarded under Open Acreage Licensing Policy Round-I in the states of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat & some blocks of Arunachal Pradesh, II. Petroleum Mining Leases have been granted for many Discovered Small Fields and Nomination blocks in Assam, Tripura, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh,