Latest news with #SEIAA
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
NGT imposes penalty for filing false affidavit
Jhansi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Vipin Kumar Saxena who was found to have earlier undertaken sand mining on the Dhasan River in extensive breach of environment clearance conditions. This penalty was imposed for filing an Original Application (OA) claiming that he did not receive the order of cancellation of environment clearance (EC) by the UP State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (UPSEIAA). As per the order of the NGT dated May 23, issued by a bench of three including Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairperson, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, member (Judicial), and Dr Afroz Ahmad, expert member, the tribunal responded to the petition of Vipin Kumar Saxena. His mining contract was cancelled by SEIAA for allegedly engaging in illegal mining in the Dhasan River at village Dhamnod, falling under Garautha tehsil of the district. After reviewing all the relevant details presented by SEIAA, it was made clear that Saxena was served the cancellation order through the appropriate channel to its registered office as well as through email. During the course of arguments in the earlier hearings in the case, counsel for the applicant, Akash Vashishtha, submitted that the instant OA was not maintainable as no substantial questions related to the environment were raised or any legal right related to the environment was infringed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "The Tribunal said that the applicant filed a false affidavit and did not approach the tribunal with clean hands. He unnecessarily wasted not only the time of the tribunal but also caused harassment to the respondents," informed Vashishtha.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Assam commando battalion camp: ‘No further deliberation, interference needed': NGT disposes of suo motu case
Disposing of a suo motu case regarding the construction of an Assam commando battalion camp on reserve forest land in Hailakandi district, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said in its order that further deliberation is not required without any challenge to the Centre's post facto forest approval to the camp. The tribunal also took on record the Assam government's undertaking that it would dismantle all constructions beyond 20,000 sqm (above which prior environmental clearance is needed), and said, 'In the above circumstances, we are of the view that no interference in this OA (original application) is required. '…We are of the view that at this stage without there being any challenge to the said order further deliberation on this issue is not required. The clearance under Section 2 of the FC (Forest Conservation) Act, 1980, now exists in favour of the Assam Police Housing Corporation Limited,' the NGT noted in its order issued on May 30. Earlier, the Assam government had submitted to its State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) that the camp did not require environmental clearance as its extent was under 20,000 sq m. The SEIAA had taken the view that the project came under the ambit of an 'educational institute'. The Assam government and SEIAA had relied upon an environment ministry notification, granting exemption from prior green nod to buildings and constructions with a built-up area up to 1,50,000 sqm, such as warehouses, industrial sheds, and colleges. This was stayed by the Supreme Court in February this year. Considering the top court's order, the NGT said, '… view of the SEIAA, Assam that the project is exempted as an educational institute in the Minutes of Meeting dated 22.04.2025 need to be re-examined by SEIAA, Assam.' The principal bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Sudhir Agarwal, and expert member Vel had taken suo motu cognizance of the battalion camp's construction by diverting 44 hectares of forest land, based on a news report. It had reserved its order in April. One of the key issues considered by the Tribunal was 'whether the approval of the Central Government under Section 2 of the FC Act, 1980, was required for the diversion of the forest land and construction of the camp… and if such a permission has been obtained?' the order said. The NGT order noted that the construction clearly fell within the meaning of 'non-forest' activity and it was not in dispute that the land in question is forest land. It noted that the Assam government sought Centre's approval under the FC Act for non-forestry use of 11.5 hectare of forest land for the camp and a post facto approval was granted in February. However, before the Assam government approached Centre, the Environment Ministry had informed the NGT that the camp's construction was in contravention of the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 2023, (formerly known as Forest Conservation Act, 1980). It said that the construction had begun without prior approval. Later, it had asked the Assam government to stop the construction and directed its regional office in Shillong to initiate action as per law. In May 2024, Assam's top forest official M K Yadava was served a notice by the regional office for alleged violation of the 2023 Adhiniyam. Action against Yadava is still pending.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Outer ring road project runs into hurdle after SC verdict
Thiruvananthapuram: The Supreme Court's May 16 ruling, which struck down a 2017 notification by the Union ministry of environment and forests permitting environmental clearance (EC) after project work had commenced, has dealt a major blow to the outer ring road (ORR) project in the capital. Consequently, compensation payments to affected landowners for the ORR remain in limbo. The National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI ) is still awaiting the environmental clearance from the Union ministry for the project's northern section, stretching from Thekkada to Navaikulam. In contrast, the southern section—from Thekkada to Vizhinjam—received clearance in 2023. Complicating matters further, the tenure of the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) committee ended in March. With a new committee yet to be constituted, responsibility for granting EC has shifted to the Union ministry. However, the Supreme Court's decision has removed the provision for post-facto approvals, halting further progress on the already delayed project. "This judgment has created an unexpected legal bottleneck," said a senior NHAI official. "We were on the verge of initiating compensation for landowners, but without environmental clearance, we are not legally permitted to proceed. The entire process is now frozen until valid clearance is granted." Envisioned to decongest the city and create a high-speed traffic corridor, the ORR project has faced repeated delays. Construction was expected to begin in April this year after land acquisition, but now, even that initial step stands delayed. "This is a case of administrative delay compounding a legal issue," said S Chandramohan Nair, convener of the action council for affected landowners. "Had the SEIAA committee been reconstituted in time, we wouldn't be in this position. People have waited for months for compensation, and now we're back to square one." "Landowners are losing patience. We supported this project for its public benefit. But with no progress or compensation, we may have no choice but to take to the streets," Nair said. SEIAA officials acknowledged the urgency. "The committee reconstitution is under active consideration by the state govt," an official said. "We expect it to be announced soon, which should help resolve the impasse." Earlier this month, affected landowners staged a sit-in protest at the NHAI regional office in Chackai. They called off the protest after NHAI's Kerala regional officer, BL Meena, assured that compensation would be paid within a month or the project would be cancelled. In Jan 2025, the district administration transferred Rs 700 crore to NHAI for compensation, but no payments have been made to landowners across 11 villages. The Rs 4,767-crore ORR project, sanctioned in Aug 2024, spans 63km and is expected to ease traffic and improve connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
IRS officer's name for State Environment Impact Assessment Authority rejected, fresh application sought
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has rejected Haryana government's proposal to appoint an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Devinder Singh Kalyan as chairman of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Haryana. The SEIAA is an arm of the MoEFCC which has been delegated powers to consider and grant environmental clearance for a category of projects, including mining, infrastructure, industrial and construction. Kalyan who is the brother of BJP MLA and Haryana assembly speaker, Harvinder Kalyan is due to retire from the service on May 31. An IRS officer from the income tax stream, Devinder Kalyan in April 2023 had managed to get a posting in the Haryana government as principal secretary, excise and taxation, a cadre post of IAS officers. Following his deputation to the state government, Kalyan was first posted as advisor in the state finance department in February 2023. He was recently repatriated to the income tax department and was posted as chief commissioner, income tax (OSD) at Chandigarh. Rejecting Kalyan's case, the central ministry in a May 14 communication to the state government said that 'the matter has been examined in the ministry and the undersigned has been directed to inform that Devinder Singh Kalyan, IRS-IT does not meet the eligibility requirements of the Environment Impact Assessment (ElA) notification of 2006.' Seeking a replacement for Kalyan's name, the union ministry's communication signed by Scientist-E, Dr JD Marcus Knight said that the Haryana government is requested to send a complete proposal for the re-constitution of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and State level Expert Appraisal Committee as per appendix VI of EIA notification, 2006 along with replacement of Devinder Singh Kalyan. The post of chairman SEIAA in Haryana has been held by former IAS officers over the years. The post became vacant a few months ago and a number of former IAS officers were in the reckoning for appointment. While no official was willing to comment on rejection of the IRS officer's name by the MoEFCC, it is learnt that Kalyan's candidature was rejected as he did not fulfil the eligibility criteria prescribed in appendix VI of the EIA notification, 2006 with regards to appointment of chairman, SEIAA.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Decide on pending environmental clearance proposals for projects in Pimpri Chinchwad in 8 weeks: HC to state panel
Pune: The Bombay high court has directed the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to 'consider in accordance with law and within eight weeks' the pending environmental clearance proposals for housing projects in Pimpri Chinchwad . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These proposals are to be considered based on the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) score as updated/published by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for Pimpri Chinchwad in accordance with an email dated Sept 2, 2024, sent by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), or in accordance with a clarification by the CPCB to the SEIAA on the issue of grant of clearance. CEPI is an index that calculates the environmental quality of industrial areas. Those with a CEPI score between 60 and 70 are termed as severely polluted, while those above 70 are considered critically polluted. Real estate body Credai Pune Metro, along with a couple of developers from Baner and Bhosari, had filed a petition alleging 'arbitrary and inordinate' delay in the approval of environment clearance by the SEIAA despite the CEPI score being within permissible limits. "More than 124 housing projects in Pimpri Chinchwad, involving an investment of nearly Rs30,000 crore, are pending approval by SEIAA since Aug last year," a Credai office-bearer said. Credai Pune Metro's head of environment committee Manish Kaneria said, "The HC directive comes as a big relief for new as well as existing projects seeking environmental approvals, and it will boost the overall economic activities in the PCMC areas." According to a Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) environment impact assessment (EIA) notification of 2006, projects involving 20,000-1,50,000sqm of construction and township projects covering over 50 hectares or with a built-up area exceeding 1,50,000sqm are classified as 'B' and 'B1' categories that require environmental clearances following a scrutiny by the SEIAA. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Dec 22, 2014, the MoEFCC issued a notification amending the 2006 EIA notification to declare that the general conditions for the 'B' and 'B1' category projects would not apply. The same was challenged before the Kerala HC, which decided the matter 10 years later by setting aside the Dec 22, 2014, notification. The Kerala HC ruling formed the basis for the SEIAA to decide at its 279th meeting on Aug 13, 2024, to defer the proposals seeking EC of many (Credai) members and to wait for a clarification to be issued by CPCB. The real estate body challenged this approach as arbitrary. On April 30, the HC bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik noted, "Consideration of the proposals received by respondent no.2 (SEIAA) from the member of the petitioner (Credai) cannot be indefinitely deferred. The deferment of the consideration of the proposals of the petitioners in this manner is not justified. The petitioners have the right to have proposals considered in accordance with law within a reasonable time. We are inclined to grant reasonable time to respondent no.2 to obtain necessary clarification from CPCB. However, we are not inclined to accede to the request made by the learned counsel that respondent no.2 will consider the proposal after the necessary clarifications are forthcoming from the CPCB." The CEPI score of the PCMC industrial area as of June 2024 was 48.37, according to information from the MPCB. The HC observed that the CEPI score of PCMC is below the threshold for critically or severely polluted classification. It also noted that the proposals of real estate developers were deferred by SEIAA on the assumption that PCMC is critically and severely polluted, contrary to the CPCB clarification.
