Supreme Court roots for green clearance to save environment
The Tribune Editorial: The SC Bench has ruled that projects with a built-up area above 20,000 square metre —industrial, educational or otherwise — cannot be exempted from the environmental impact assessment (EIA) regime.
Updated At : 05:56 AM Aug 07, 2025 IST
AMID a fierce monsoon that has exposed flaws in the development models of several states, the Supreme Court has thrown its weight behind the environment. It has struck down a clause that exempted certain large building and construction projects from prior environmental clearance. The controversial clause was part of the January 29 notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The SC Bench has ruled that projects with a built-up area above 20,000 square metre — whether industrial, educational or otherwise — cannot be exempted from the environmental impact assessment (EIA) regime.
