SC stays NGT order asking Rly, Metro to seek EC for projects

In an order that would speed up construction work of Indian Railways and metro rail in various cities, Supreme Court today stayed an order of National Green Tribunal directing them to seek prior environmental clearances (ECs) for their projects like dedicated freight corridor.
"The order of the National Green Tribunal is stayed," a bench, comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice A M Khanwilkar, said.
The bench was hearing pleas filed by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) and the Metro Rail against the order passed by the green tribunal that they are required to seek ECs for all their projects.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the PSUs, said construction works like metro rail in cities and dedicated freight corridors would help in reducing pollution and asking them to seek ECs was "ridiculous".
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh also said the metro rail and dedicated freight corridors would reduce dependence on cars and trucks for travel and transportation of goods.
The law officers said polluting industries should be asked to get environment clearances and not those which help in reducing pollution.

Rohatgi referred to some notifications which say that the metro rail does not need ECs from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for their projects.

Earlier too, the MoEF had told the tribunal that Railways and Metro Rail projects were not within the purview of the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment Notification and therefore prior EC was not required.
"The Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development (Metro Rail Cell) vide Office Memorandum dated May 22, 2009 has sent a Cabinet note to the MoEF and that the MoEF have vide Office Memorandum dated June 2, 2009 responded to the Cabinet note stating that the metro projects are not required to seek EC under EIA Notification...
The National Green Tribunal had on May 31 held that all

metro rail projects needed environmental clearance after conducting proper Environment Impact Assessment.
The tribunal had passed the same order when the matter pertaining to construction of the Railways' dedicated freight corridor came up before it.
New metro projects or expansion of the existing ones are currently being implemented in several cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.