The Supreme Court has stayed a judgment of the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to review the constitutionality of a 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification which exempted coastal areas of ‘‘outstanding natural beauty’’ such as Vizhinjam-Kovalam sector in Kerala from protection.
The July verdict of the tribunal bench led by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had spelt trouble for the Rs.5,000 crore Vizhinjam International Seaport project in the State.
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu on January 21 passed the stay order on a plea by the project proponents against the tribunal decision. The apex court scheduled the case for detailed hearing after six weeks.
This has effectively stalled the hearing posted by the NGT Bench on January 27 and 28.
