MANGALORE, Apr 27 (The Hindu): Builders of apartments and other multi-storeyed structures in the State need not obtain environmental clearance from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in future if the built-up area is less than 2 lakh sq. ft, according to Minister for Environment and Ecology J. Krishna Palemar.

In an informal chat with presspersons here on Sunday on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of City Centre, a mall, the Minister said that the Government was contemplating increasing the exemption limit for obtaining environmental clearance from the KSPCB from the present 20,000 sq. ft built-up area to 2 lakh sq. ft. However, environmental clearance will have to be obtained for buildings exceeding this limit.

The Minister said that industries classified under red category need not seek renewal of the board's clearance annually as the Government was proposing to make it a five-yearly exercise. The Government proposed to give clearance for setting up industries under orange and green categories at the district level instead of the State capital.

The Minister said that these proposals were pending approval of the board.