Kerala HC stays NGT order regarding minimum distance from quarries to residential areas
text_fields
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), prescribing the minimum distance between quarries in the state and residential areas, of 200 metres.
The NGT order was issued on a petition regarding a quarry in Palakkad district whereby the Tribunal had raised the distance between the quarries and populated areas from 50 metres to 200 metres. The HC order comes in response to a petition by quarry owners challenging the NGT order.
The plea of the quarry owners was that that their side was not heard before NGT issued the order and the Tribunal heard only the environment department of the state. Advocate General representing the state argued that the government decision to fix 50 metres as the minimum distance was taken after hearing all views.
The single judge bench of the high court commented that prima facile the Tribunal did not hear all the parties concerned before issuing the order and therefore issued a stay.
