SC seeks govt.'s reply on plea against CRZ clearance to Kudankulam units

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the government's reply on plea against Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to Kudankulam units.

The apex court issued notice to the Union Government and others on a plea contending that CRZ clearance was granted to Units 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project without proper environment impact Assessment.

A division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta also sought response from Tamil Nadu Government and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) on an appeal filed on behalf of noted nuclear activist G Sundarrajan.

The petition was argued by noted apex court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who submitted that the mandatory EIA for the said units has been done by an unaccredited agency Engineers India Ltd.

He also claimed that there was a non application of mind in the granting of the CRZ clearance wherein various environmental issues have not even been dealt with.

The NGT had earlier dismissed the plea saying that the apex court in 2013 judgment has already dealt with units 3 to 6.