New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Wednesday struck down the environmental permission for the Tata Camelot township in Chandigarh, saying it falls within the catchment area of the Sukhna lake.
A bench headed by chief justice G. Rohini set aside the clearances for the Rs1,275 crore project, which was to come up across 52.66 acres with 19 towers.
“The permission which was granted by the Nagar Panchayat Naya Gaon to Tata Housing Development Company Ltd (THDL) and endorsed by the Punjab government, is invalid and therefore, set aside,” justice . Rohini said in the order.
The court, however, said the company could apply to the central government for environmental clearance, in which case the project will have to be treated as a ‘Category A’ project.
Separate petitions filed by Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation and advocate Aalok Jagga had challenged the environment clearance granted to the project. The petitioners claimed the project will damage the environment in and around Chandigarh, particularly the lake and the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.
In August 2013, the Punjab and Haryana high court cleared the project, subject to the company getting all necessary clearances. The petitioners moved the apex court, which set aside the clearance order and asked the Delhi high court to look into the matter afresh. The company was directed to maintain status quo until the matter was decided by the high court.
