NGT asks NMRC to get clearance for Noida-Greater Noida metro line

It also said if project does not comply with direction issued under environmental clearance, work 'shall be liable to be stopped forthwith'

The National Green Tribunal has directed Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) to obtain environmental clearance for the Noida-Greater Noida line within three months.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said Noida Metro Rail fell under Schedule 8(b) of Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and directed it to approach State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) within one week for the requisite permission.

"We direct the respondent no 1 (NMRC), the project proponent to obtain environmental clearance for the project in question as expeditiously as possible and in any case not beyond three months from the date of pronouncement of this judgment.

"The application in Form 1A shall be submitted within one week from today to SEIAA, Uttar Pradesh. It shall dispose of the application as category B-1 project as expeditiously as possible, and in any case, not later than the period aforestated," the bench said.

The tribunal also held that if the project proponent does not comply with the directions issued under the environmental clearance, the project work "shall be liable to be stopped forthwith".

"We make it clear that if the work already executed by the project proponent has caused any irretrievable loss to environment, ecology and nature, the SEIAA would be well within its rights even to direct demolition of such constructed portion," the green panel said.

The judgement came on the plea of environmentalist Vikrant Tongad who had alleged that the metro project was being carried on without obtaining prior environmental clearance.

Tongad had sought directions to Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) to obtain environmental clearance for its project after conducting proper Environment Impact Assessment of the project.