SC Allows Construction Projects (20,000–150,000 sqm) Without Central Green Nod

The Supreme Court has ruled that construction projects ranging between 20,000 to 150,000 square metres no longer need approval from the central government’s environmental body. Instead, clearances can now be obtained from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), making way for stalled projects like colleges, hostels, housing societies and industrial sheds to resume operations.

This decision comes after much debate, where developers and state bodies had raised concerns about unnecessary delays due to central oversight. The court clarified that decentralising this process doesn’t eliminate environmental checks — it simply assigns responsibility to state-level bodies more familiar with regional factors.

Real estate developers and industry groups have welcomed the verdict. Many argue this will remove bottlenecks, especially in growing Tier 2 cities where infrastructure development often lags behind demand due to bureaucratic delays. On the other hand, some environmental activists worry that state authorities may face political pressure or lack resources to conduct thorough assessments.

Still, the court maintained that states must follow environmental protocols and ensure that eco-sensitive areas continue to be protected under national law. The ruling is expected to boost economic activity, especially in cities like Nagpur, Indore, Kochi and others where medium-scale construction had been waiting for green clearance.

This move reflects a shift toward decentralised governance, where states are given more power to fast-track essential development while still being held accountable for ecological sustainability. The success of this model now depends entirely on how responsibly individual states manage the balance between growth and environment.