NGT Seeks Response to Substantial Exemption from Environmental Clearance on Mining Leases!

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Environment Ministry to file a reply to the petition challenging the notification exempting mining leases from obtaining environmental clearance for two years. NGT Chief Justice Ardash Kumar Goel and Justice SP Wangdi asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to give their replies via email within a month.

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Kerala activist Noble M. Pykada. This petition has challenged the notification of 28 March in which the rules of 2006 have been amended to require the grant of environmental clearance before starting the project affecting the environment.

The petition states that these amendments exempt mining leases from the need to seek environmental clearance for two years. Apart from this, for digging land for projects like roads, pipelines, they also give exemption from environmental clearance.

The counsel for the applicant argued that the Supreme Court has decided to take environmental clearance for mining leases and cannot be exempted from it.