HC directs Centre, Raj to decide on Baran pumped storage project
2
Jaipur:
Rajasthan High Court
has directed the Union govt to decide within two months on pending approvals for a proposal to fell 1.19 lakh trees in Baran for setting up a pumped storage project. The court order, passed on April 28, also said no trees shall be cut until further orders, and without its permission. The division bench of Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice Sunil Beniwal called this a matter of public importance concerning the felling of over one lakh trees if the project is green signalled. At present permissions are pending at both Centre and state levels.
"At this stage, we think it proper that the Central govt should take a final decision in the matter and any decision taken in the matter to grant or not to grant approval should be placed before this court for perusal, with a copy of the same to learned Amicus Curiae. Further proceedings in this case would depend upon the decision that may be taken by the Central govt in the matter," the court said.
The court also said, "Taking into consideration the nature and magnitude of the exercise required to be undertaken by the Central govt in coordination with the state govt, we are inclined to list the matter after two months. However, we make it clear that no tree shall be cut without the permission of the court."
The case involves an application for forest clearance which is under consideration by both Union and state govt. Earlier, the HC had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about the feeling of 1.19 lakh trees on forest land in Baran, part of which also falls within the govt's proposed Cheetah corridor. Senior counsel for the executing company said the project was unable to proceed despite having procured land and investment of approximately Rs 500 crore.
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While the counsel for the Union of India told court that in-principle approval was granted to the project, some queries raised by the state govt remain unresolved. Once these are addressed, the Centre will be in a position to take a final decision. Amicus Curiae expressed concern that approval may lead to immediate tree felling, to which the state promised to respond promptly.
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