The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to review the environmental clearance granted to a group housing project in Gurugram’s Sukhrali village, following concerns raised by residents over its ecological impact. The move brings renewed scrutiny to large-scale urban developments in the rapidly expanding city, where real estate growth continues to test the balance between infrastructure expansion and environmental safeguards.
The tribunal’s order came in response to a petition filed by the project’s resident welfare association (RWA), which challenged the Haryana State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for granting approval to the expansion. The petition argued that the clearance was issued without fully considering the project’s environmental implications, including waste management, groundwater depletion, and air quality impacts.
A bench comprising the NGT Chairperson and an expert member recalled that a three-member expert panel was constituted in 2021 to reassess the project’s environmental footprint. The committee was instructed to submit its findings to the SEIAA for reconsideration. However, the tribunal observed that the SEIAA’s term had since expired and that a new authority had not yet been appointed by the state.
In light of the administrative lapse, the NGT directed the Union environment ministry to undertake the review in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification. The bench instructed the MoEFCC to “revisit the environmental clearance and pass appropriate orders granting or not granting clearance, or imposing additional conditions as necessary.” The ministry has been given eight weeks to complete this exercise, with the next hearing scheduled for January 2026.
Experts say the directive underscores a broader issue in India’s urban planning framework the frequent disconnect between state-level environmental authorities and real estate expansion policies. “Environmental oversight in fast-growing urban areas like Gurugram needs stronger institutional continuity,” said an environmental policy researcher. “Delays in constituting regulatory bodies weaken the enforcement of sustainable development norms.”
Gurugram’s real estate market, one of the most active in the National Capital Region (NCR), has witnessed multiple environmental compliance challenges in recent years. Projects have often been scrutinised for inadequate groundwater recharge mechanisms, improper waste management, and construction-related pollution.Urban planners argue that decisions like the NGT’s are crucial to reinforcing accountability. By mandating a review at the national level, the order could set a precedent for greater environmental diligence in future housing expansions, aligning urban growth with sustainability imperatives and citizen well-being.
NGT Orders MoEFCC To Review Environmental Clearance For Gurugram Housing Project Expansion
