Introduction
The National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, in Renu Bala v. MoEF&CC & Ors.1, delivered a decisive ruling reinforcing that prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006 is a non-negotiable statutory mandate. The Tribunal categorically rejected the invocation of “deemed clearance” in circumstances involving non-compliance, holding that procedural delays cannot be used to legitimise environmental violations, including unauthorized construction and illegal tree felling.
Background
The proceedings arose from allegations that the project proponent undertaking the “Omaxe State” development in Dwarka, New Delhi, had commenced large-scale construction activities and undertaken tree felling without obtaining the requisite statutory approvals. The project, spread over a substantial land parcel with significant built-up area, squarely fell within Category 8(b) (Township and Area Development Projects) under the EIA Notification, 2006, thereby mandating prior
