In Brief
The Punjab Department of Mines & Geology appealed the cancellation of environmental clearance for mining in the Sutlej riverbed. The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority revoked the clearance after finding that the department had misrepresented the project scope in its application—specifically, it failed to disclose that agricultural land was involved. An Expert Committee's report confirmed the information provided was contrary to ground reality. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals, upholding that environmental clearances can be revoked when applications contain material misrepresentations about land use and project details.
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