Goa imposes heavy penalty over careless discarding of alcohol bottles in public spaces, tourist sports
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Hindustan Times
8 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Supreme Court order on green clearance paves way for 493 stalled real estate projects in Mumbai and Pune: CREDAI-MCHI
In a major victory for 493 stalled real estate projects across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune, the Supreme Court (SC) on August 5 disposed of writ petition of Vanshakti NGO vs Union of India, and reaffirmed that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) shall continue to remain the competent authorities for project-level environmental assessments. The Supreme Court judgment removes regulatory ambiguity that had severely impacted project approvals, construction timelines, and homebuyer confidence, CREDAI-MCHI said in a statement (Representational photo)(Pexels) In its ruling, the SC reaffirmed that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) would remain the competent authorities for conducting project-level environmental assessments, allowing state agencies to continue overseeing environmental clearances. "This landmark ruling brings long-awaited relief to over 493 projects stalled in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune, affecting more than 70,000 housing units, particularly in the affordable and mid-income segments. The judgment removes regulatory ambiguity that had severely impacted project approvals, construction timelines, and homebuyer confidence," CREDAI-MCHI said in a statement. Also Read: Over 70,000 housing units stalled across MMR amid green clearance hurdle According to the statement, the SC has also struck down key portions of the 2014 and 2016 notifications, specifically Clause 14(a) and Appendix 16, that had sought to introduce an Environmental Cell under local authorities, a move that would have led to confusion and potential overlaps in jurisdiction. Additionally, the court rejected the differential regulatory treatment for industrial sheds and educational buildings under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, underscoring the need for uniformity in environmental regulation, the statement said. Also Read: SC upholds environment ministry notification, junks exemption clause for big projects Domnic Romell, president, CREDAI-MCHI, said, 'This judgment is a direct result of CREDAI-MCHI's proactive legal intervention to protect the interests of our members and the thousands of homebuyers impacted by stalled projects. We initiated this petition to bring clarity to an increasingly complex and ambiguous environmental clearance process, and we are grateful that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has upheld the role of SEIAA and SEAC as competent authorities." Also Read: Over 25,000 buildings in Mumbai Metropolitan Region eligible for redevelopment with ₹30,000 cr value: CREDAI-MCHI According to CREDAI-MCHI's statement, the official order from the SC is awaited.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Narendra Modi, Marcos unveil strategic push in Indo-Pacific theatre
India and the Philippines on Tuesday signed nine agreements, including a declaration establishing a strategic partnership, as well as terms of reference for talks between their respective armed forces and cooperation on the peaceful use of outer space. The strategic partnership was announced following talks in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. The meeting came just a day after the Indian and Philippine navies wrapped up two days of joint exercises near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea -- a region that remains a flashpoint in the long-running maritime dispute between Beijing and Manila. 'India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny,' Modi said, standing alongside Marcos Jr. 'From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. Ours is not just a friendship of the past; it is a promise to the future.' He added that maritime cooperation between the two nations was 'both natural and essential' for countries with strong seafaring traditions. Later, at a media briefing, P Kumaran, secretary (east) in the Ministry of External Affairs, reiterated India's long-held position on the South China Sea, describing it as 'clear and consistent', and emphasising New Delhi's 'abiding interest' in peace and stability in the region, which it views as part of the global commons. He also confirmed discussions are under way on developing submarine infrastructure in the Philippines. Modi said bilateral trade has been growing steadily and had recently crossed $3 billion. 'To further strengthen trade ties, it is our priority to review the India-Asean free-trade agreement at the earliest,' he said. 'We have also decided to work towards a bilateral preferential trade agreement.' India has also extended a one-year, gratis e-tourist visa facility to Filipino nationals. Marcos said the two countries had 'agreed to continue levelling up our collaboration in defence and security,' and pointed to India's growing defence manufacturing capabilities as a potential contributor to the Philippines' military modernisation. 'We will foster naval and coast guard interoperability via port calls, cooperative activities and capacity building in the maritime domain,' he said. India and the Philippines share strategic concerns over Beijing's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Manila continues to face off with China over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jr has previously said Manila is considering further weapons procurements from India. The Philippines has already acquired a shore-based anti-ship missile system from BrahMos Aerospace in an 18.9 billion peso ($329 million) deal aimed at strengthening its coastal defences. Modi said the strategic partnership would pave the way for deeper engagement between their respective armed forces. He described the Philippines as an 'important partner' in India's Act East Policy and its MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. 'We are committed to peace, security, prosperity and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. We support freedom of navigation in accordance with international laws,' the PM said. Under India's development partnership initiative, Modi said New Delhi would expand the number of Quick Impact Projects in the Philippines and collaborate on developing sovereign data cloud infrastructure. 'Today, while the President is in India, three ships of the Indian Navy are participating in a naval exercise in the Philippines for the first time,' he added. The PM also highlighted the role of Indian companies operating in the Philippines across sectors including digital technology, health, automotive, infrastructure, and minerals.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Kochi airport: Cial comes under RTI Act purview, rules Kerala HC
Kochi: A high court bench of Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and V M Syam Kumar has upheld a single bench order that declared that Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial) is a public authority and is therefore amenable to Right to Information (RTI) Act. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now HC delivered the verdict while dismissing a set of appeals filed by Cial against the single bench order of 2022. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on Cial, to be paid to the Kerala high court advocates' association within 10 days. The cost was imposed in view of the court's findings that the writ petitions and appeals were filed by Cial managing director without the approval of the board of directors, apparently with the intent of concealing important decisions and actions from public shareholders. HC observed that even the CM, Cial's chairman, was not consulted before initiating the litigation. It held that the MD had no authority to file the cases without the board's approval. Strongly deprecating this practice, HC directed the chief secretary, who is a Cial director, to take appropriate action and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. The case arose after a series of RTI applications seeking various details, including the minutes of board meetings, were rejected by Cial. This prompted appeals to the state chief information commissioner, who ruled that Cial is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act and is bound to provide the requested information. The Cial MD then moved HC against the commissioner's order. However, a single bench dismissed the petitions in 2022 and directed the public information officer of Cial to provide the requested information in accordance with law. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The MD's appeals contended that Cial does not fall under the definition of public authority under Section 2(h)(d)(i) of RTI Act, arguing that it is neither owned, controlled, nor substantially financed by the govt. However, HC held that both Kochi International Airport Society, Cial's predecessor, and Cial itself had been substantially financed by the Kerala and central govts from their inception, and that all conditions for being a public authority were duly satisfied. Upholding the state CIC's 2019 order, HC reaffirmed that Cial is obligated to provide information under the RTI Act. HC directed Cial to take all necessary steps within 15 days to become fully compliant with the provisions of the RTI Act and file a compliance report. The chief secretary has also been directed to file an action taken report before HC registry within 15 days.
