Supreme Court Half Yearly Digest 2023 - Environmental Laws

Aarey Case - The Supreme Court imposes Rs. 10 lakh fine on Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) for seeking to cut more trees than allowed; but allows it to cut 177 trees. In Re: Felling of Trees in Aarey Forest (Maharashtra), 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 334 : 2023 INSC 381Appeal maintainable before NGT against corrigendum imposing additional conditions to environmental clearance. IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power Company Ltd. v. T. Muruganandam, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 192 : (2023) 6 SCC 585 : 2023 INSC 136Chandigarh Master Plan - Supreme Court prohibits conversion of independent residential units as apartments in Chandigarh Phase 1 to preserve the heritage status of 'Corbusier' City-Any fragmentation, division, bifurcation, and apartmentalisation of a residential unit in Phase I of Chandigarh is prohibited. Residents Welfare Association v. Union Territory of Chandigarh, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 24 : AIR 2023 SC 570 : AIR 2023 SC 570 : AIR 2023 SC 570 : (2023) 8 SCC 643 : 2023 INSC 22Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) - If the direction as contained in paragraph 56.5 of the order dated June 3, 2022 that even for continuation of existing activities, the permission of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of each State or Union Territory would be necessary, remains unmodified, taking into consideration that in each State or Union Territory there will be hundreds of villages wherein millions of people would be residing, the PCCF would be left with no other job except to consider such applications for permission to continue such activities. Even a farmer desirous to continue farming activities would be required to seek such permission. We find that such a direction is impossible to be implemented. If such a direction is continued, rather than avoiding man-animal conflict, it will intensify the same. In Re: T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 351 : 2023 INSC 430Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) - If the direction as issued by this Court in paragraph 56.5 of the order dated 3rd June 2022 is continued, then no permanent structure would be permitted to come up for whatsoever purpose in the aforesaid ESZs. Hundreds of villages are situated within the ESZs in the country. If no permanent construction is to be permitted for any purpose, a villager who is desirous to reconstruct his house would not be permitted. Similarly, if the Government decides to construct schools, dispensaries, anganwadis, village stores, water tanks and other basic structures for improvement of the life of the villagers, the same would also not be permitted. The effect of the order will be to prevent the State or the Central Government from constructing roads and provide other facilities to the villagers. In Re: T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 351 : 2023 INSC 430Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) - The Court modified the directions contained in paragraph 56.5 of the order dated June 3, 2022 as follows: 1. The MoEF & CC and all the State/Union Territory Governments shall strictly follow the provisions in the said Guidelines dated 9th February 2011 and so also the provisions contained in the ESZs notifications pertaining to the respective Protected Areas with regard to prohibited activities, regulated activities and permissible activities. 2. We further direct that while granting Environmental and Forest Clearances for project activities in ESZ and other areas outside the Protected Areas, the Union of India as well as various State/Union Territory Governments shall strictly follow the provisions contained in the Office Memorandum dated 17th May 2022 issued by MoEF & CC. In Re: T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 351 : 2023 INSC 430Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) - the requirement of declaring ESZs is not to hamper day to day activities of the citizens but is meant to protect the precious forests/Protected Areas from any negative impact, and to refine the environment around the Protected Areas. In Re: T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 351 : 2023 INSC 430Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 – Rule 5 - The area to be declared as ESZ cannot be uniform and will be Protected Area specific. In some cases, it may be 10 kilometres on one side and 500 meters on the other side. In certain cases, it may not be possible to have a uniform minimum area by virtue of inter-state boundaries or a sea or a river beyond one side of the Protected Area. In any case, a detailed procedure is required to be followed as prescribed under Rule 5 of the 1986 Rules. Once such a notification is issued after following the procedure prescribed under the 1986 Rules, the ESZs will have to be as per the said notification. In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 351 : 2023 INSC 430Environment and Wildlife Protection - Supreme Court extends the jurisdiction of a committee constituted by the Tripura High Court to oversee transfer of wild animals pan-India- Court directs that all...

Supreme Court Half Yearly Digest 2023 - Environmental Laws

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