200 MMR Projects on Hold After NGT Directive
A recent ruling by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has disrupted approximately 200 real estate projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), as developers now face a bureaucratic impasse following the tribunal’s directive. The order, which mandates that all projects within a 5-kilometre radius of eco-sensitive zones secure environmental clearance from the central government, has created a severe bottleneck in the region’s development sector.
The NGT ruling, passed on August 9, applies nationwide, targeting projects exceeding a built-up area of 20,000 square metres within designated green zones, wildlife sanctuaries, or heavily polluted areas. In MMR, this affects several high-profile projects near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Flamingo Bird Sanctuary in Thane and Navi Mumbai, and the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vasai-Virar. While the directive affects both ongoing and new projects, the major concern for developers lies in the absence of clear guidelines from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Developers report confusion, with state agencies unable to grant the necessary approvals, citing lack of jurisdiction post-NTG ruling. Meanwhile, central agencies, tasked with issuing clearances, have yet to establish a framework for evaluating these projects. Industry bodies like the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) have expressed frustration over the lack of an efficient system to implement the order, which has left developers with mounting costs and prolonged timelines. Builders have raised concerns over how this uncertainty affects not just ongoing projects but also potential launches, as many of these developments, including amendments to existing plans, require fresh environmental clearances.
The impact is not limited to developers but extends to homebuyers, as delays push back delivery dates. The issue has reached the Supreme Court, with CREDAI-MCHI—an association of real estate developers in Mumbai—seeking a stay on the order until a central appraisal committee is constituted to process these projects. The court is set to hear the case on January 21, with the MoEFCC directed to respond to the petitions. While state-level environmental authorities previously handled such clearances, the shift to centralised oversight has resulted in administrative chaos, exacerbating the situation for Mumbai’s already strained real estate market.
