A clause of the COVID-era notification in focus had earlier done away with the need to secure prior environmental clearances for the extraction of soil for “linear projects” such as roads, pipelines, etc.
On March 24, this clause was struck down by the Supreme Court, which also criticised the undue haste in which the notification containing the clause was published.
Subsequently, NHAI filed a plea seeking the Court’s permission to continue with existing projects where work orders were issued before the March 24 judgment.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for NHAI and said that NHAI is a statutory body, but was not made a party to the case in which the March judgment was passed.
A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Sanjay Karol today assured that the projects in question would not be affected by the March 24 judgment, but also sought a list of such projects along with the work orders.
The matter will be heard further in July.
Source: Barandbench
