NGT raps environment ministry for exempting real estate projects from procuring clearance

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday expressed displeasure with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on its recent notification exempting real estate projects from obtaining prior environmental permission or clearance and restrained it from granting any fresh permission under new regulations.

On December 9, the Environment Ministry issued a notification which exempted big building and real estate projects covering on an area of 20,000 square metres to 1, 50,000 square metres from getting environment clearance.

The tribunal order came in response to a plea filed by an NGO, the Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity, seeking quashing of the notification on the grounds that it was in contravention to the provisions of the environment impact assessment notification, 2006 and Environment Protection Act, 1986.

"Until further order the notification will not be implemented.... If you grant even one clearance under the new notification we will stay the notification," Justice Swatanter Kumar, NGT Chairperson said.

The petition contended that the purpose of including the construction projects in the EIA notification is a failure of the urban local bodies and development authorities.

The matter is now listed for next hearing on January 12.