HimVani
Mandi: The matter of Sundernagar Cement Plant of Himachal Pradesh has finally reached Supreme Court. While entertaining the Special Leave Petitions filed by Harish Cement Ltd, the Division Bench of Supreme court of India comprising of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma has today issued notices to the respondents including Ministry of Environment and Forests, various Departments of Govt of H.P and private respondents, directing them to file reply within three weeks. The next date of hearing has been fixed for 25-4-2011.
The court however did not pass any interim order pertaining to staying the implementation of Judgment passed by the Green Bench of Himachal High court, which was passed on December 13, 2010. On December 13,2010 High Court of H.P had quashed the environment clearance along with the proceedings of Land acquisition of controversial cement plant, the MOU of which was signed by the government of Himachal in the year 1995. Ministry of Environment and Forest granted environment clearance to the plant on the request of then Chief Minister Vir Bhadar Singh without any fresh public hearing.
Now, Harish Cement Ltd has filed as many as six SLP before Supreme court of India against the decision of High Court of H.P and has alleged in the petitions that plant was being set up in highly industrial area. It has further stated that the petition before High Court was time barred and further supported the stand taken by former Chief Minister Vir Bhadar Singh that there was no need of any fresh public hearing for the project. All the petitions were taken up for hearing today and court issued notices to the respondents.
