NHAI approaches SC as Environment Ministry blocking highway projects
New Delhi- The recent norms imposed by the environment ministry pertaining the green clearances has been quite a menace to the highway developments projects. Owing to this, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approached the Supreme Court.
The NHAI requested the Supreme Court for a clarification/modification which was declared in the year 2011 which further gave power to the authority to set up new norms.
The SC however requested the centre to make a provisional arrangement regarding the forest clearance until a regulator for the national environment was set up.
The case involving the cement major Lafarge had de-linked the environment clearance from forest clearance until the apex court’s order. The work on the outside stretches of the forest areas will be started along with the construction on the remaining space with the NHAI receiving the forest clearance.
As mentioned earlier, the centre was asked to make a provisional clearance by the SC until a regulatory was set up. The environment ministry also connected the two clearances concerning the widening of national highways. The NHAI has currently requested the SC to de-link both the clearances.
The change in the procedure followed by the new memorandum by the MoEF’s has delayed the execution and completion of more than 22 awarded highway projects as per the NHAI.
The projects are delayed due to the failure to procure the environment clearance (EC) and this apparently leads to disputes and termination of the contracts. The NHAI however filed a plea with their woes and stated that the concessionaires, on the pretext of the delay in procuring the EC have begun terminating their agreements.
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Delhi NCR, failure to procure the environment clearance (EC), menace to the highway developments projects, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), New Delhi, NHAI receiving the forest clearance, NHAI requested the Supreme Court for a clarification
