Special Correspondent
Pimpri Chinchwad: The Bombay High Court, led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre, recently heard a petition regarding environmental clearance (EC) proposals for development projects in Pimpri Chinchwad. The court instructed the state to reconsider these proposals, taking into account the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) prepared by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
The petition was filed by CREDAI Pune Metro, an association representing real estate developers in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The respondents in the case included the State of Maharashtra, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), and the MPCB.
CREDAI Pune Metro sought directions for SEIAA to assess EC applications by factoring in the updated CEPI scores from the MPCB. The petition argued that SEIAA had postponed approvals for several projects in its 279th meeting held in August 2024, citing an incorrect interpretation of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruling. The NGT had mandated strict enforcement of the 2006 notification by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF & CC) for projects in critically polluted areas.
According to the petitioners, SEIAA failed to consider that the CEPI score for Pimpri Chinchwad did not categorize it as a severely or critically polluted area. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) confirmed through email in September 2024 that the area’s CEPI score was below the threshold limit.
Advocate Ravi Kadam, representing CREDAI, requested the court to direct SEIAA to make a decision on the pending proposals. Advocate Jaya Bagwe, appearing for MPCB, presented the MOEF & CC’s latest notification, which requires prior environmental clearance for new projects or expansions under the 2006 guidelines.
The court emphasized the importance of adhering to the January 2025 notification and instructed the respondents to make a decision on the pending proposals within eight weeks, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
