Action by authorities on Dec 10 2014 EIA subject to final

The Madras High Court today said any action by authorities on basis of the December 10, 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment notification, exempting projects or units in government industrial parks from public consultation for expansion prior to that of September 14 2006 will be subject to the final outcome of a petition.
The first bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul stated this in an intermin order when a petition filed by advocate D A Prabakar, who is also secretary of Tirunelveli District Consumer Protection Association, came up before it
The petitioner submitted if the December 10 notification of the Centre was accepted, the highly polluting industries prior to this notification will not adhere to EIA norms.

Earlier he had filed a petition, seeking public consultation for people to express their views on expansion of a cold drinks unit in the industrial park in Tirunelveli district. The Court had directed the authorities to consider his representation. A reply was given by the authorities but the plea of public for consultation was rejected.
The EIA issued a notification on September 14, 2006 that units or factories in government parks should be given license after public consultation. But on December 10, 2014 the Environment and Forest Ministry passed another order exempting projects or units situated in government-notified industrial parks prior to EIA notification from public consultation for expansion purposes.