The National Green Tribunal (NGT), southern zone bench in Chennai, on Tuesday indicated that it may be premature to interfere with the Telangana government's ambitious Future City project at this stage. The bench noted that the proposed Future City Development Authority (FCDA) is intended to facilitate planned and regulated urban development.
Parallel with Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority
During the hearing of a petition challenging the project proposed on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the bench drew a parallel with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. It observed that the latter was established to ensure planned urban expansion and that the FCDA was similarly envisaged as a mechanism for structured development.
Petition Allegations
The petition was filed by Hyderabad-based environmentalist Donthi Narasimha Reddy, who alleged that the government had commenced development activities for the project without obtaining mandatory prior environmental clearances, in violation of environmental laws. He sought a permanent injunction restraining the development of the Future City project, which is proposed to come up over nearly 30,000 acres spread across 56 villages.
NGT's Observations
During the hearing, the bench further observed that when the government itself proposes to undertake development through a structured and planned approach backed by a vision document, interference at this preliminary stage may not be warranted. The NGT had, in April, declined to grant any stay on the project, stating that interim orders could not be passed without hearing all parties and without counters being filed. It had directed the FCDA and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to place their counters on record.
Government's Argument
Appearing for the FCDA, Additional Advocate General T Rajinikanth Reddy submitted that the petition was premature and argued that the state could not be compelled to obtain environmental clearance for a development project that had not yet materialised.
Next Hearing
Taking note of the submissions made by both sides, the bench adjourned the matter to July 14 for further hearing.
