The Union environment ministry has extended the validity of environmental clearances for ports, harbours, breakwaters and dredging projects from 10 years to 20 years. The period can be extended by five years on two occasions, bringing the framework closer to the arrangements applicable to mining projects. The change was notified through a gazette dated September 21 and also applies to environmental clearances issued previously. Officials said the extension was intended to improve ease of business and address the long gestation periods associated with port and related infrastructure projects. The ministry said it had reviewed the issue after receiving a request to rationalise the validity period for clearances granted to ports and harbours. Sectoral expert and advisory committees considered the existing period insufficient. A draft notification had initially proposed a 15-year validity period, with a further five-year extension, but stakeholder consultations led to a broader review. The shipping ministry had requested that the clearance period be aligned with the project period or 30 years, whichever was longer, citing the framework for mining projects. Following further deliberation, the expert advisory committee recommended a 20-year validity period, with a five-year extension beyond that term and the possibility of a second five-year extension in deserving cases. The ministry said additional environmental safeguards would have to be incorporated into the Environmental Management Plan when a second extension was granted. Projects would also remain subject to annual compliance reporting, allowing authorities to take action if environmental conditions were breached. Environmental lawyer Ritwick Dutta said the longer validity period need not create additional environmental risks because completed projects would continue to submit annual compliance reports. He said the change would primarily provide port developers with a wider period in which to begin or complete projects, while retaining regulatory oversight through environmental monitoring.