The National Green Tribunal on Thursday allowed the plea of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) seeking time to file some documents in several pleas challenging the ministry's recent notification exempting real estate projects from obtaining prior environmental clearance.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked MoEF to file by February 7 additional documents and listed the matter for day-to-day hearing from February 15.

"MoEF wishes to file some documents relevant for comprehensively deciding the matter by the tribunal. We permit MoEF to file additional documents by Tuesday," it said.

During the hearing, the counsel for MoEF sought two weeks time file an affidavit and other documents to show the reason for amending the notification published on December 9, 2016 exempting building and construction projects of all sizes from the process of environment impact assessment (EIA) and prior environmental clearance before beginning construction.

The green panel had earlier refused to stay the December 9, 2016 notification by MoEF and issued notice to the ministries of Environment and Forests and Urban Development while seeking their reply.

The tribunal was hearing several pleas including one filed by the Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity seeking quashing of the December 9 notification on the ground that it was in contravention to the provisions of EIA notification, 2006 and Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Source : http://www.thestatesman.com/india/environment-clearance-exemption-moef-gets-time-to-file-docs-1486025544.html