Appeal challenging Singoli-Bhatwari hydro-electric project, dismissed due to inordinate delay

National Green Tribunal (NGT): While observing that a public spirited person is expected to be diligent in pursuing public cause and not be indolent and lackadaisical, particularly when his action is likely to hinder and jeopardize public work of high magnitude and proportion, NGT dismissed an appeal filed by an environmentalist stating that the appeal was barred by limitation. The said appeal was filed before NGT by a former Professor of economics of IIM Begaluru, presently living at Lakshmoli in Uttarakhand. It was alleged in the appeal that Singoli-Bhatwari hydro-electric project on the river Mandakini in the State of Uttarakhand has been started by L&T Uttranchal Hydro Electric Pvt. Ltd. without complying with the Environment and Forest Clearance and various other safeguards. It was further alleged that no permission of the National Board of Wildlife was sought for before the land for the project was transferred to the State Forest Department and the design of the project was also faulty. Before the Tribunal, L&T Uttranchal Hydro Electric Pvt. Ltd. denied all the allegations and submitted that all the required conditions for the Project have been complied. It was further contended by L&T Uttranchal Hydro Electric Pvt. Ltd. that the delay in filing the application was inordinate as the project had commenced on the basis of valid environment and forest clearances given in the 2006, 2007 and 2009. In his defence, the appellant submitted that the matter came to his knowledge only in July, 2014, after which he approached the Tribunal. After perusing the material on record and hearing both the parties, NGT dismissed the appeal and noted, “We unhesitatingly hold that the Application is inordinately delayed and, therefore, barred by limitation. A public spirited person which the Applicant claims to be is expected to be diligent in pursuing public cause and not be indolent and lackadaisical, particularly when his action is likely to hinder and jeopardize public work of the magnitude and proportion as the project in question.” [Bharat Jhunjhunwala v. Union of India, 2016 SCC OnLine NGT 161, decided on May 4, 2016]