SC says Centre can notify NH, allows 8-lane Chennai-Salem expressway

New Delhi, Dec 8 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Central government is fully competent to notify “any land” for acquisition, to construct a national highway and prior environmental clearance is not necessary at the stage of notification of land acquisition proceedings.
A bench comprising of Justices A. M. Khanwilkar, B. R. Gavai and Krishan Murari allowed the Centre go ahead with Rs 10,000 crore Chennai-Krishnagiri-Salem eight-lane expressway under the “Bharatmala Pariyojana”.
The bench said: “the Central Government is free to construct/build a new national highway … for securing a social order and promotion of welfare of the people in the concerned region, to provide them adequate means of livelihood, distribute material resources as best to subserve the common good, create new opportunities.” The 277.30 km highway had faced tough opposition from farmers and activists alleging loss of agricultural land and damage to forest, flora and fauna.
In the 140-page judgment, the bench emphasised that the availability of a highway in any part of the state paves way for sustainable development and for overall enhancement of human wellbeing: a decent quality of life, creation of assets and to fulfil their aspirations of good life by provisioning access to newer and present-day opportunities.
The bench said the Central government alone has the executive powers to construct/build a new national highway in any state and to issue directions to the government of any state for carrying out the purposes of the 1956 Act.