Environment 

Challenge to revocation of Environment Clearance: We represent Hindalco Industries Ltd. in a challenge to directions issued by the MoEFCC revoking EC for a bauxite mine in Jharkhand due to lack of prior approval under the Wildlife Act. We have challenged such revocation on inter-alia, the ground that the statute does not require prior approval of NBWL as the same is part of the process of grant of EC. The matter is pending before the Supreme Court in a civil appeal against the order of NGT.

Challenge to NGT orders: We are currently representing various industries before the Supreme Court in challenging orders passed by NGT levy levying environment compensation for alleged non compliances including against orders passed in the Shivpal Bhagat matter and Ashwani Dubey matters.

Closure of Mine: Our team has successfully challenged an order issued by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board under the Air Act and Water Act for closure of a mine before the Bombay High Court. The matter involved issues of maintainability of writ petition due to availability of remedy before the NGT, non-adherence of principles of natural justice and environment issues such as whether any operation could be directed to be shut down on the basis that it was in the Eco Sensitive Zone even though there was no specific notification identifying such area as ESZ.

NPV and compulsory afforestation: We represent Hindalco Industries Ltd. before the Lucknow High Court in a challenge to imposition of NPV and obligations for compulsory afforestation for land leased for non-forest purpose before the enactment of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

MC Mehta, T.N. Godavarman, Ashwani Dubey, Common Cause: We track developments in key environment cases to equip ourselves to advise our clients on issues affecting them.

We regularly advise various industries in making representations before the state pollution control board in relation to issues regarding compliances for flyash disposal utilisations, air and water emissions, FGD compliances, boiler emissions and periodic compliances under CTO and ECs.