Chennai: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has informed Madras high court that it has sought environmental clearance from the Central Government for the proposed Greenfield 8-lane expressway from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.
In a counter affidavit filed by NHAI Project Implementation Unit of Kancheepuram before the court it has informed that “In order to get environmental clearance to the project application was submitted to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change to get the approval for the terms of reference (TOR). The expert appraisal committee during its 189th meeting held on May 7, 2018 recommended to grant TOR with certain specific conditions in addition to the standard TOR.”
The counter was filed in reply various petitions filed opposing the government move to acquire the land for the proposed project. Among others P. V. Krishnamoorthy, a resident of Pappireddipatti taluk in Dharmapuri district, owner of 2.98 acres of land, had filed the petition challenging the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) move to acquire the land for the project.
In the petition, Krishnamoorthy submitted that even as Union ministry of environment and forest had not accorded environmental clearance for the project, the state government permitted the NHAI to proceed with the acquisition process in Dharmapuri district.
