IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Writ Petition (PIL) No.75 of 2009 Sandhya Dalakoti & another ………..Petitioners Versus State of Uttarakhand & others ….Respondents Shri M.C. Kandpal, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Shri S.S. Chaudhary, learned counsel for the petitioners. Mr. K.P. Upadhyay, Addl. Chief Standing Counsel for the State/ respondent nos.1 to 3. Shri Sudhir Kumar, learned counsel for the respondent no.6. Dated: 18th November, 2010 Coram: Hon’ble Barin Ghosh, C.J. Hon’ble V.K. Bist, J. Barin Ghosh, C.J. (Oral) On 28th August, 2010, we misread the letter of Additional Director, Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests dated 28th June, 2010 written to Shri Ajay Verma, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Works Circle, Haldwani, District Nainital and felt that Environmental and Forest clearance have been granted thereby. On a careful reading of the said letter, it seems that no such clearance has been granted, but the intention of the letter was only to apprise under what provision and in accordance with what law such clearances are given and that one is not dependent on the other. In the counter affidavit filed by the State, it has been stated that Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project was originally conceived in the year 1975 and was to be completed in three stages and sometimes in 1981-82, the first phase of the project was completed. 2 It has been stated that the State is trying to obtain Environmental and Forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India to complete the remaining phases of the project. It has been stated in the counter affidavit that some more steps are required to be taken by the State Government in this regard. In asmuchas, State Government is envisaging completion of the said project and has approached the authorities, we think, appropriate steps are being taken and thus, the purpose of the present writ petition has served. 2. We, accordingly, dispose of the writ petition by requesting the State Government to expedite the steps to be taken by it for obtaining Environmental and Forest clearance and to approach the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for obtaining necessary clearance for completion of the said project at an early date. We hope and expect that within a period of six months, the State Government will take necessary steps for the purpose of obtaining forest clearance and approach the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for obtaining forest clearance. We also request the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to expedite the matter at their end and if it is of the view that forest clearance can be granted to grant the same at an early date. We, at the same time, request the State Government to take necessary steps for obtaining Environmental Clearance simultaneously, with taking steps for obtaining forest clearance. It is hoped and expected that within a short period of time these clearances will be obtained in order to enable the State Government to complete the project. (V.K. Bist, J.) (Barin Ghosh, C.J.) 18.11.2010 18.11.2010 Arpan