Temporary EC amendment for increased road ore transport upheld despite challenges, balancing national interest against environmental concerns via phased limits, mitigation, and infrastructure deadlines under sustainable development.

O R D E R

1. The Special Leave Petition arises from an interim order of a Single Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh dated 17 February 2021. The petition under article 226 of the Constitution is pending. Hence, we are not inclined to entertain the Petition at this stage. Since the High Court is seized of the proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution, the rights and contentions of the parties including all objections would have to be agitated in accordance with law before the High Court.

2. During the pendency of these proceedings, the petitioners have placed on the record a copy of the extension of the Environment Clearance which was granted on 29 October 2021. This Court has not adjudicated upon the legality of the EC or its extension having regard to the fact that the proceedings are pending before the High Court and the petitioners would be at liberty to pursue their rights and remedies.

3. The Special Leave Petition is dismissed.

4. Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.”

15. In response to the above, the learned counsel for the Appellant, Ms. Shalini Ghera had submitted that while they both deal with an amendment in the EC for the same Rowghat Iron Ore mining project, the circumstances of appeal are very different, in the following ways –

a) “In Mohan Singh Darro (supra), the relevant EC amendment was for a definite period – 5 years ending on 31.12.2021 and it was heard by the Hon’ble High Court at the end of this period, when only a few more months were left for its expiration. The High Court was assured by the Project Proponent that the railhead would reach Rowghat at the end of this period, i.e. by 31.12.2021 and this was considered by the Hon’ble Court while passing the order dated 17.02.2021.

The situation is vastly different today. The railhead has not yet reached Rowghat, and as per the Project Proponent, the railway would be operational only in 2027. Thus, this “interim mining” is not an arrangement merely for a few more months.

b) In Mohan Singh Darro (supra), the transportation was for only 0.3 million tonnes per annum of iron ore, but in the current amendment, the quantity of iron ore that is to be transported has been increased seven-fold. Thus, the impact on health, quality of life, destruction of crops and livelihood are proportionally much greater.

c) In Mohan Singh Darro (supra), the route under consideration was a short one, only 77 km, going through one district. However, the current evacuation corridor under consideration is 232 km + 58 km long, passing through 3 districts. Consequently, the number of impacted people is also much higher.

d) The current statutory appeal has important grounds of ex -post facto environmental clearance, misleading the EAC by suppressing relevant information, inadequate and incomplete studies on air pollution etc. which were not available at the time of Mohan Singh Darro. However, all the grounds taken at the time of Mohan Singh Darro are still available, since their scale has considerably enlarged, and thus a fresh look at their relative importance is warranted.”

16. The learned counsel for the Project Proponent Mr. Gaurav Bhatia has submitted that the matter was placed before the MoEF&CC for reconsideration in view of the law-and-order problem due to Naxalite affected area and the MoEF&CC considered the matter vide order dated 25.01.2022 and the issues raised were discussed and suitable order was passed accordingly. The relevant portion of the order is quoted below :

i. The Project Proponent submitted that due to delay in completion of rail link and handing over of forest land due to serious LWE (left wing extremism) disruption, mining operation could not commence. After ressolving issue of security and forest tree cutting of 24.18ha of land on 27.01.2021, mining operation (production and dispatch) started on 05.02.2021 and it was e