Noting that education too has become a “flourishing industry” now, the Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down the exemption granted to construction projects related to industrial sheds, schools, colleges, and hostels from obtaining prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
A bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran quashed the part of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change notification of January 29, 2025, granting the exemption.
The bench said: “We see no reason behind the exemption…If any construction activity of an area more than 20,000 sqm is carried out, it will naturally have an effect on the environment, even if the building is for educational purpose. We see no reason to discriminate the other buildings…We are of the view that the exemption of applicability of the 2006 notification to the projects and activities qua industrial sheds, schools, colleges, hostels, and educational institutions does not appear to be in tune with the purpose of the Environmental Protection Act.”
The decision came on a plea by NGO Vanashakti.