In Brief
The Bangalore Development Authority sought Environmental Clearance for an eight-lane Peripheral Ring Road. The Supreme Court upheld the National Green Tribunal's order directing a rapid Environmental Impact Assessment, finding that while the BDA was authorized to acquire land and 'highways' properly included 'expressways', the Environmental Clearance decision was invalid. The project proponent had relied on expired Terms of Reference and outdated data, and the process was marred by contradictions regarding forest land diversion. The Court balanced infrastructure needs with environmental protection, emphasizing that constitutional guarantees of fair treatment (Articles 14 and 21) require rigorous, transparent environmental governance.
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