NGT seeks clarity on nod for waterway projects.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) to clarify its position on the need for prior environment clearance for inland waterway projects, including the marquee Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) along river Ganga on National Waterway 1 between Haldia and Allahabad.

The principal bench of the NGT gave the Ministry time till January 31 to submit its opinion on the issue in an order on November 1 that disposed of a petition brought by Bharat Jhunjhunwala and others against Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and others.

The NGT observed that projects of inland waterways are, as on date, not included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.“

(The number of ) such projects may increase in the coming days and MoEF & CC has been directed to look into the issue whether environmental clearance is required and whether the EIA is to be done in such projects in the future,” the Shipping Ministry wrote in an internal document, quoting the NGT order.

HBL