JUDGMENT :

L. Nageswara Rao. J.

The dispute in these appeals pertains to the environmental clearance for expansion of National Highway 45-A between Villuppuram to Nagapattinam. The High Court held that it is necessary. The Appellant disagrees. Hence, these appeals.

2. The project of widening and improvement of the existing 4-laning carriage way in the State of Tamil Naduand the Union Territory of Puducherry, from Villuppuram to Nagapattinam was bifurcated into four packages, which are as follows:

i. Villuppuram to Puducherry (29.000 kms)-Package I.

ii. Puducherry to Poondiankuppam (38.00 kms)-Package II.

iii. Poondiankuppam to Sattanathapuram (56.800 kms)-Package III.

iv. Sattanathapuram to Nagapattinam (55.755 kms)-Package IV.

3. Approval was granted by the Competent Authority, i.e. Special District Revenue Officer (Land Acquisition), National Highways No. 45-A in March, 2018 and agreements were entered into between the Appellant and the concessionaires. Process was initiated for acquisition of lands required for the project. Writ Petitions were filed in the High Court of Madras by certain aggrieved farmers and public interest litigants questioning the commencement of the project withou