Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding action against violation of environmental norms by NHAI in the course of four laning of National Highway from Udhampur to Banihal, Jammu & Kashmir, 29/10/2021
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Amresh Singh Vs Union of India & Others dated 29/10/2021.
The issue for consideration is the remedial action against violation of environmental norms by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and its contractors - M/s Gammon India Ltd (GIL), the Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd. (HCCL) and M/s Choudhary Power Project Pvt. Ltd. (CPPPL), subcontractor of M/s GIL and M/s HCCL, in the course of four laning of National Highway from Udhampur to Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir.
The NGT directed the NHAI to "set apart amount of Rs. 129 crores, which is tentative cost for implementing environment management plan and cost of restoration of damage to the environment". NHAI has been asked to implement the Environment Management Plan which should include restoration of the damage caused during the course of construction of NHAI-44 so far. Restoration plan has to be prepared within one month by the NHAI, which must be overseen by the monitoring Committee constituted by the Tribunal, with the assistance of any other expert/institution.