Primary source · Environmental clearance
The 29 October 2025 green belt memorandum, in full
Transcribed by Devendra K Jha · 12 August 2026This memorandum replaced the blanket 33% green belt requirement with tiers keyed to pollution potential. Industrial estates now develop 10% as common green area; units inside them owe 15% (Red) or 10% (Orange); units outside owe 25% down to 10% depending on category and air pollution score. Red and Orange units in critically or severely polluted areas still owe 40%.
Text of the memorandum begins
F.No. IA3-22/14/2025-IA.III (E-275538)
Government of India
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Impact Assessment Division
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, 3rd Floor, Vayu Wing, Jor Bagh Road, Ali Ganj, New Delhi-3
29th October, 2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Rationalizing the requirement of green belt/green cover for Industrial Estates/Parks and individual industries based on pollution potential - reg.
The EIA Notification 2006 mandates prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for the projects/activities covered in the schedule of the Notification. One of the conditions imposed in the ECs pertains to development of green belt/green cover in the project area. The Ministry vide OMs dated 09/08/2018, 04/01/2019, 08/01/2019 has standardized the EC conditions for the projects covered in the schedule of the EIA Notification, 2006. It has stipulated separate green belt requirement for each type of developmental sectors with 33% green belt being prescribed for most sectors.
Subsequently, vide OM dated 31st October 2019, 40% green belt criteria was introduced for high pollution potential Red and Orange Category industries located in Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) and Severely Polluted Areas (SPAs), under the mechanism for environmental management of such areas and for consideration of activities/projects therein for grant of EC, in compliance to Hon’ble NGT order dated 23/8/2019 in O.A. No 1038/2018.
In addition to the above, CPCB has also issued the guidelines for developing greenbelts dated March 2000, which outlines the technical specification of the green belts and the type of species to be used in the green belts, etc. However, the guidelines do not include the aspect related to the calculation of the quantum of green belt to be developed or rationalization of the green belts based on the pollution potential of the industry.
In this context, the Ministry had issued an OM dated 27th October, 2020, wherein the requirement for developing green belt/ green area in Industrial Estates/ Parks/ Complexes/ Areas, Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Biotech Parks, Leather Complexes, has been specified. The OM, inter-alia, states that an overall green area of at least 33% of the Industrial Estate should be developed and the Industrial Estate may accordingly allocate part of the responsibility for developing green cover, to respective individual industrial units, so as to achieve the overall 33% green belt/green cover requirement.
In order to address the various issues related to the percentage of green belt in various Projects/Activities and to strike a balance between the requirement of land for the Projects/Activities and the environmental needs of the green belt a committee was constituted by the Ministry to examine the matter regarding green belt development and to rationalize the requirements. The Committee, after due deliberation, submitted a report to the Ministry for revising the criteria for developing green belt/green cover in Industrial Estates/Parks and individual industries based on pollution potential. The report of the Committee was referred to the Expert Advisory Committee for examination. After due deliberation, the Expert Advisory Committee recommended that the proposed revised greenbelt criteria submitted by the committee constituted by the Ministry may be suitably implemented to ensure implementation by the various projects and activities at the ground level.
The matter has been examined in the Ministry and based on the recommendation of the Expert Advisory Committee the Ministry hereby directs that the following revised criteria for developing green belt/green cover for Industrial Estates/Parks and individual industries may be adhered to in supersession of the OM dated 27th October, 2020 mentioned at para 4 above:
A. Green belt/green cover in Industrial Estates/Parks
The following norms shall be adhered to while developing green belts in the new green field industrial estates:
A minimum of 10% of the area of the industrial estates shall be designated as common green area with dense plantation [i.e. 2,500 trees per hectare] to be developed by the owner of the Industrial Estate. This area could be developed by the Project Proponent either at one location or be earmarked at different locations within the premises in such a manner that it is clearly demarcated and adds up to 10% of the area of the Industrial Estate. Additionally, the individual member industries located in an Industrial Estate shall be required to meet the following minimum green belt requirement within its premises:
| Category | Minimum green belt requirement |
|---|---|
| Red | 15% |
| Orange | 10% |
| Green | Optional with no mandatory requirement |
| White | Optional with no mandatory requirement |
The green belt should be located as close as possible to the pollution source. The proponents may undertake plantation higher than minimum criteria mentioned above depending upon availability of in-situ and ex-situ area and resources.
B. Green belt/green cover in Individual Industrial Units outside Industrial Estates
Individual Industrial Units outside the Industrial Estates requiring EC shall ensure that green belt criteria based on the recommendations of the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) or State level Expert Appraisal Committees, which are laid down in the EC conditions, are adhered to. The sectoral EAC/SEACs may refer the criteria below:
| Category | Predominantly air polluting sectors | Other sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Red | 25%(PIA ≥80) | 20% |
| Orange | 20%(PIA ≥55) | 15% |
| Green | 10%(PIA ≥25) | Optional |
| White | Optional | Optional |
PIA means air pollution score.
C. Generic directions with regard to developing green belt/green cover
In the case of brownfield projects applying for modernization/expansion/change in product mix of the project within industrial estates or individual industrial units, the Expert Appraisal Committees will determine the minimum green belt criteria/provision based on on-site conditions and prescribe requirements on a case-by-case basis.
The aforementioned green belt criteria shall be applicable prospectively to the applications received for the grant of EC and also for the applications which are currently under consideration for grant of EC.
In addition to the minimum green belt criteria suggested above, the units may take up ex-situ plantation subject to availability of land, in collaboration with State Forest Departments, Urban Local Bodies, or other government agencies in schemes such as Nagar Van, Compensatory Afforestation programs, etc.
The proponent responsible for plantation will make adequate provision for watering and protection of the saplings/plants for at least 5 years and ensure their subsequent sustenance.
The green belt development for green and white category industries located within an Industrial Estate/Park shall be optional with no mandatory requirement. For white category industries located outside the Industrial Estate/Park and for green category industries located outside the Industrial Estate/Park (other than green category industries with PIA ≥25) the green belt development shall be optional with no mandatory requirement.
D. Green belt norms in case of Industrial Estates and Individual Industrial units in Critically Polluted Areas (CPA) and Severely Polluted Areas
A minimum of 40% green belt shall be developed in red and orange category units located in Critically Polluted Areas (CPA) and Severely Polluted Areas (SPA), in accordance with the Mechanism for Environmental Management of Critically and Severely Polluted Areas and in compliance with the Hon’ble NGT order dated 23.08.2019 in the matter of O.A. No. 1038/2018 and in accordance with the OM dated 31st October 2019.
E. Directions for enhancing the Effectiveness of Green Belts
Selection of Species: (a) Adopt native and pollution-tolerant species with proven capacity for absorbing dust, gaseous pollutants, and noise; (b) Incorporate a mix of evergreen and deciduous species to ensure year-round effectiveness.
Design and Structure: (a) Develop a multi-tier plantation model comprising tall trees, medium-height shrubs, and ground cover; (b) Ensure adequate width and density of the green belt, commensurate with site-specific pollution levels.
Orientation and Placement: (a) Align green belts perpendicular to the predominant wind direction to maximize interception of pollutants; (b) Provide continuous and gap-free plantation along sensitive boundaries.
Soil and Water Management: (a) Enrich soil with organic matter and ensure proper drainage for sustained plant growth; (b) Provide assured irrigation support, particularly during dry seasons, to maintain plant health.
Maintenance Measures: (a) Undertake regular pruning, gap-filling, and replanting to maintain density and effectiveness; (b) Implement pest and disease control measures for long-term sustainability.
Monitoring and Evaluation: (a) Conduct periodic monitoring of air quality, vegetation health, and biodiversity within the green belt; (b) Revise species composition and management practices based on monitoring results.
Integration with Environmental Planning: (a) Link green belt development with broader ecological measures such as water bodies, open spaces, and biodiversity corridors; (b) Promote community participation and awareness to ensure protection and upkeep.
F. Monitoring mechanism
The monitoring mechanism for industrial estates may include submission of a half yearly green belt status report by the concerned Industrial Estate to SPCB/PCC and Integrated Regional Office (IRO) of MoEFCC, informing canopy coverage, number of living trees, height and species, survival rate, etc. and include drone imagery.
The individual industrial units to submit half yearly reports on their green belt areas, including total area covered, number of trees, species types, and other relevant details, as part of their environmental statements to the respective SPCB/PCC.
The green belt details submitted by the Industrial Estate will be verified by IRO and SPCB/PCC on yearly basis. The green belt details of individual units will also be verified by SPCB/PCC on random basis at time of inspections.
This is issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.
(Dr. J.D. Marcus Knight)
Scientist E
Text of the memorandum ends
Five things the reporting gets wrong
Because the source is a scan, almost everyone writing about this memorandum is working from someone else’s summary. These are the errors we see repeated, each checked against the text above.
- 1
The air pollution score thresholds are missing everywhere
“Predominantly air polluting” is not a judgement call. Section B defines it by score: Red at PIₐ ≥80, Orange at ≥55, Green at ≥25. No summary we have found carries these numbers, which means no summary can actually tell you which column you are in.
- 2
Green category is not exempt
A Green category unit outside an estate, in a predominantly air-polluting sector with a score of 25 or above, owes 10%. The common claim that Green and White are simply exempt is wrong for exactly this case.
- 3
Section B guides the committee; it does not bind you directly
The memorandum says units “shall ensure that green belt criteria based on the recommendations of the sectoral EAC or SEACs, which are laid down in the EC conditions, are adhered to”, and that those committees “may refer” the table. Your binding number is in your clearance conditions.
- 4
Brownfield projects are carved out entirely
For modernization, expansion or a change in product mix, paragraph C(i) puts the decision with the Expert Appraisal Committee on a case-by-case basis. The table does not set your obligation.
- 5
Off-site plantation is expressly permitted
Paragraph C(iii) allows ex-situ plantation with State Forest Departments, Urban Local Bodies or other agencies, under schemes such as Nagar Van and Compensatory Afforestation. For a land-constrained site this is a real route, and it is almost entirely absent from the coverage.
Common questions
What does the MoEF&CC office memorandum of 29 October 2025 say about green belt?
It supersedes the memorandum of 27 October 2020 and replaces the uniform 33% green belt requirement with tiers keyed to pollution potential. A new greenfield industrial estate must develop 10% of its area as common green area at 2,500 trees per hectare. Units inside an estate owe 15% if Red and 10% if Orange. Units outside an estate owe 25% if Red and predominantly air-polluting, 20% if Red otherwise, 20% or 15% if Orange, and 10% if Green with an air pollution score of 25 or above. Red and Orange units in critically or severely polluted areas owe 40%.
Is the 25% figure in the memorandum binding on an individual industrial unit?
Not directly. The memorandum states that units outside industrial estates must adhere to green belt criteria laid down in their environmental clearance conditions on the recommendation of the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee or State Expert Appraisal Committee, and that those committees may refer to the table. The binding figure for any project is what its clearance conditions state.
Does the 29 October 2025 memorandum apply to environmental clearance applications already filed?
Yes. Paragraph C(ii) states the criteria apply prospectively to applications received for the grant of environmental clearance and also to applications currently under consideration.
Does the memorandum allow off-site plantation?
Yes. Paragraph C(iii) permits units to take up ex-situ plantation subject to land availability, in collaboration with State Forest Departments, Urban Local Bodies or other government agencies, under schemes such as Nagar Van and Compensatory Afforestation programmes.
Devendra K Jha
Founder, AgPro Consulting
Devendra advises Indian industrial and infrastructure projects on their green belt obligations — reconciling what an environmental clearance requires with what a state board’s consent conditions actually demand, then delivering the plantation and the evidence that keeps a consent renewable.
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