The Punjab and Haryana High Court has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2024, seeking directions for the de-silting of the Perch Dam situated near village Perch Khurd.
The Court, in its order directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, to decide on the application made by the State of Punjab for environmental clearance within 45 days.
The PIL was filed in the context of a notification dated March 28, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which exempted the process of de-silting in water bodies from the requirement of environmental clearance.
However, the Ministry later partially superseded this notification, making it necessary for the State of Punjab to obtain environmental clearance as per the National Framework for Sediment Management.
The State of Punjab had made an application for environmental clearance on April 12, 2024, which was under consideration by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sudhir Singh directed the Ministry to decide on this application within 45 days, so that the process of de-silting can start and conclude before the monsoon season.
The PIL was disposed of with the direction to the Ministry, and a copy of the order was communicated to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, as well as the State of Punjab.