Panaji: In a major blow, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stayed the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change (MOEF&CC) that empowered local governing bodies to grant environmental clearances (ECs) for construction projects which have built up areas between 20,000-50,000 sq mtrs.
The stay on November 14 notification is issued via a order dated December 3.
The notification was challenged before NGT by one Shashikant Vithal Kamble
NGT said that existing mechanism will fall short of the requirement of the principle of ‘sustainable development’ ‘precautionary principle’ which are part of the Constitution.
“Accordingly, while issuing notice we stay operation of the unsigned notification and direct that existing mechanism prior to this notification will continue till further Order,” order stated.
“If such constructions are exempted from the purview of the Expert Appraisal Committee, it will amount to failure to protect the Environment which is the duty of the MOEF&CC under the Environment (protection) Act 1986, which was enacted to give effect to the international community under RIO Convention 1992,” the it added.
