The government has decided to set up a Project Clearance Board for speedy one time clearances, including security, to oil and gas projects. It is to be set up on the lines of Foreign Investment Promotion Board-FIPB .

The Board will include representatives from the Ministries of Home, Defence, Environment and Forests, commerce, Coal and other Ministries. The decision was taken at a meeting held in Prime Minister's Office to review the status of clearances of Oil and Gas Blocks awarded under the New Exploration Licensing Policy-NELP.

To be headed by Cabinet Secretary,the Board will meet on a monthly basis to review the status of clearances for energy and infrastructure projects and expedite issuing of security and other clearances. Ministries would report to this Board about the status of issuing of clearances after following their internal due diligence processes.

For the Petroleum and Natural Gas sector, the special cell for clearances being set up in Directorate General of Hydrocarbon, will act as the secretariat. A common mechanism for all sectors will be evolved soon and the Board will be set up in the coming weeks.