1. First and foremost is the issue of adhoc moratorium in Agra specially in reference to directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court regarding seeking permission for environmental projects. It is well known that all the Environmental Projects in Agra including Waste to Energy Plant are stuck because of the stand of the Municipal Corporation/ TTZ Authority that before starting any work, they require permission of CCE/ NEERI from Adhoc Moratorium imposed in TTZ. In this regard, the Hon’ble Supreme Court had in its order dated 06.12.2019 clearly differentiated between Environmental Projects and industries. While it had permitted setting up of Environmental Projects, it had directed the State Govt to seek consent of NEERI and Central Empowered Committee for setting up industries. The Oversight Committee had in its last report pointed it out to the Hon’ble NGT. Hon’ble NGT also after studying the Hon’ble Supreme Court order reiterated this point of view in its order dated 10.08.2020. However, Commissioner Agra/ Chairman TTZ in his letter dated 15.01.2021 has again mentioned that they have filed a clarification IA 42482/2020 dated 22.03.2020 in Hon'ble Supreme Court regarding exemption from NEERI/Central Empowered Committee permission for environmental projects. He mentioned that the Municipal Corporation Agra has been again asked to file a fresh application in Hon'ble Supreme Court in this regard. The Oversight Committee felt that Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 06.12.2019 is very clear and the clarification application is unnecessary. Moreover, the fact that it is pending for more than 10 months underlines the fact that the State Govt/ TTZ Authority need to take this matter more seriously as all environmental projects are lying standstill because of this wrong interpretation. The matter being very important and covering the entire area of TTZ, where environment projects are not moving ahead, the Committee deems it proper to bring it to the kind notice of Hon’ble NGT.
