Industries cannot operate without prior environment clearance: NGT

“We are of the view that since prior EC is statutory mandate, the same must be complied,” a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said

Industries cannot operate without prior environment clearance (EC), the National Green Tribunal has said while holding that the State has no power to exempt the requirement. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the State cannot allow the units to function without EC on payment of compensation. “We thus hold that without prior EC the units cannot be allowed to operate. The State has no power to exempt the requirement of prior EC or to allow the units to function without EC on payment of compensation,” the Bench said, adding “We are of the view that since prior EC is statutory mandate, the same must be complied.”