No prior environmental clearance needed for Bengaluru twin tunnel project: Centre tells NGT

Bengaluru: The union environment ministry has said no prior environment clearance (EC) is required prior to taking up the twin tunnel project in Bengaluru, stating that such works come under the ambit of environment impact assessment (EIA) rules only when they are part of larger national or state highway projects.

Under the banner of Bengaluru Praja Vedike, activists in September moved an original application before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), questioning the state government’s proposal to build a 16.74-km twin tunnel road between Hebbal and Central Silk Board junction.

The activists had contended that the project had got a push despite procedural violations and lack of “mandatory EIA” process, including public consultation, prompting NGT to issue notice to the authorities.

Concerns

The activists had listed several reasons that make EC a prior requirement in the proposed project. The major ones include impact of the project on Lalbagh Road, pollution load in places like Peenya industrial area located within 10 km from the project site and questions over disposal of debris generated by the project. 

In its response, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF&CC) sought to differentiate between the twin tunnel project and the linear projects listed in the EIA notification, issued under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

“(The notification) does not contain any standalone provision prescribing EC specifically for the activity of constructing an underground tunnel by itself... Tunnels as an independent category do not form part of the said Schedule,” the ministry said.

Not part of highway

The ministry, however, said that underground tunnel can be subject to prior EC “only when it forms an integral part” of a project or activity expressly listed in Schedule 7(f), like a highway.

“There is no separate independent requirement of prior EC exclusively for the construction of a tunnel under the EIA notification, 2006,” it said, adding that there was no question of a separate EC for the tunnel project.

Among the projects listed in 7(f) are new national highways and highway expansion with length more than 100 km.

The state-level authorities are empowered to assess state highways (SH) and SH expansions in hilly terrains or ecologically sensitive areas.