The expansion or modernization of the projects also increases the damage potential on environment. MoEF has therefore regulated undertaking expansion and modernization projects also for above identified 30 categories of projects.

The certain category of projects reserved for Small Scale Industry where investment is less than 1 crore been exempted from the preview of Environmental Clearance (EC).

Setting up projects in Coastal zone area has also been regulated for the protection of Coastal area environment.

Since public may be effected by a developmental project, provision of public consultation (with few exceptions) has been made in the EC process.

Ministry of Environment & Forests has grouped 30 categories of projects in five-sub group depending on the similarity of EC process work flow.