The Supreme Court today allowed the use of forest areas in Faridabad for holding marriages and parties but suspended mining of 20 million metric tonnes of minor minerals in Sonepat and Panipat. A three-member Bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik also set aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court order placing the onus of getting environment clearances from the Centre for mining projects in the fragile Shivalik ranges on the Haryana government instead of the project owners. The Bench, which included Justices SS Nijjar and IMF Kalifulla, stayed an interim order passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) placing a blanket ban on pitching tents or erecting ‘pandals’ in the forest areas of Faridabad and asking the Haryana Pollution Control Board and the Faridabad Municipal Corporation to ensure compliance. The SC passed the order relating to Faridabad on a plea by traders challenging NGT’s ruling. “It seems NGT is very active. Alright, we will permit you to carry on your business activities,” the Bench told the petitioners. The court also delivered a judgment on two petitions filed by the Centre and the Haryana government, challenging the HC’s May 15, 2009 order on environment clearance. Additional Solicitor General Mohan Jain and Haryana’s Senior Advocate General Narendra Hooda contended that the HC verdict ran counter to the Union Forest and Environment Ministry’s notification under which environment clearance for all projects across the country were supposed to be sought by the respective project owners. The SC verdict is expected to bring down the prices of construction material in Haryana. The HC order had resulted in scarcity of minor minerals as the Centre was not giving environment clearances on the basis of the state government applications. The apex court also directed a lease holder for mining of 20 million metric tonnes of minor minerals to suspend the mining activities till further orders following objections on the validity of the clearances given to the project. apex court directives The SC stays interim order by a green tribunal banning pitching of tents or erecting ‘pandals’ in the forest areas of Faridabad Sets aside HC order placing the onus of getting environment clearances from the Centre for mining projects in Shivalik ranges on the Haryana government instead of project owners Directs a lease-holder to suspend mining activities of minor minerals till further orders