Draft EIA Notification 2020: Karnataka HC urges Centre to consider extending last date for receiving objections from public

The Karnataka High Court today asked the Central government to consider extending the time for filing objections pertaining to the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification issued on March 23 (United Conservation Movement Charitable and Welfare Trust(r) v. Union of India)..This direction came in a plea highlighting the fact that there was severe lack of publicity with respect to the Draft EIA notification. As of now, the last date for submitting objections is August 11..The Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice M Nagaprasanna stated,."Prima facie, we are of the view that the respondent Central government must take immediate steps to ensure that wide publicity is given to notification dated 23rd March, 2020 in official languages of all the States. If publicity is to be given hereafter, only few days’ time will be given to the citizens to submit objections. Therefore, Central government will have to consider extending the time for submitting objections."Karnataka High Court.The petition before the Court stated that when such notifications were issued by the government in past, wide publicity was given, even in vernacular newspapers. But the present EIA notification was notified only in the Official Gazette and on the official website of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change..This has deprived the general public of their legitimate right to file suggestions and objections, which is a violation of natural justice, the plea notes. .In this view, the petition seeks to direct the Centre to extend the time for submitting the suggestions/objections till December 31, in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic..During the hearing, Central Government Counsel Shivkumar informed the Court that all the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities have been directed to give publicity to the Draft EIA notification in local languages. .However, the Court observed that nothing was placed on record to show that said direction of the Centre was acted upon by the state authorities. .Shivkumar further stated that the Centre had received over 4 lakh suggestions/objections from public. "We (Central Government) want to involve all the stakeholders", he said. .To this, the Court said replied,"Your intention must reflect in your actions.".The Court further said that if publicity is not given to the EIA notification, then the very "object of notification will be defeated". .It further cautioned that if publicity of the draft notification as well as extension of the notification is not adhered to, then the Bench would go to the extent of staying the notification. .The matter will be next heard on July 23. .Advocates Prince Issac and Bhavya AC will appear for the petitioners. .Time limit to file objections to Draft EIA Notification 2020 is up to August 11: Delhi High Court [READ ORDER].The Delhi High Court had earlier clarified that the time limit to file the objections to the Draft EIA Notification 2020 is up to August 11, 2020..[Read plea here]