NICE challenges withdrawal of pollution board’s consent

NICE challenges withdrawal of pollution board’s consent
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The High Court on Monday admitted a petition by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) challenging the State Pollution Control Board’s order withdrawing its consent for the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project.

The petition challenged the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) order dated September 20, which withdrew the Consent for Establishment (CFE) granted by it in August, 2000, for the BMIC project.

Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) has sought the Court to quash the order, as it was unilateral, arbitrary and without proper consideration of its reply to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) notice in the matter.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had withdrawn the CFE on the ground that the project now being implemented by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), was in gross variation of the original approved alignment and had not obtained fresh clearance for the same.

The withdrawal order also said that a provision of ‘soft opening’ of a section of Peripheral Road amounted to violation of conditions of Consent for Establishment (CFE) and Union Environment & Forests Ministry’s environmental clearance.

Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice S Abdul Nazeer admitted the petition for hearing while seeking a reply from KSPCB before November 17. The petition has been posted to November 20.