Reserved Forest, and the resulting non-compliance of statutory environmental safeguards by the State authorities themselves. 3. The MoEF&CC Guidelines notified on 29.01.2025, titled “Procedure and Criteria for the Siting of Industrial Plants”, lay down the central regulatory framework governing establishment of industrial units vis-à-vis ecologically sensitive areas. Clause 9, Chapter 3 of the said notification categorically mandates that “Red Category industries shall not be located within 500 metres of habitation, educational institutions, places of worship, archaeological monuments, national parks, Reserved Forests, heritage sites, or natural drains.” The provision is unambiguous and binding upon all State Boards and industrial development agencies. Furthermore, Clause 13(xi) of the same Guidelines empowers the State Pollution Control Board to refuse or cancel any consent if the Petitioner has submitted incomplete or false information or concealed material facts. The present case squarely falls within the mischief of these two clauses, as the industry in question has been permitted and allowed to construct in a location that violates the 500 metre buffer criterion from a Reserved Forest boundary. The project site of M/s Ishan Copper Industries, situated at Plots F-33, F- 34 and F-35 within RIICO Industrial Area, Soniyana, Tehsil Gangrar, District Chittorgarh, lies at a measured aerial distance of approximately 269 metres from the nearest Reserved Forest boundary, as verified through the Google Earth imagery annexed herewith. Despite this clear contravention of central siting norms, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board proceeded to grant Consent to Establish (CTE) to the