- SEIAA chairman alleges 237 environmental clearances issued without appraisal.
- Letter claims illegal approvals caused irreversible ecological damage.
- NGT order reportedly declared some clearances void.
- Chairman alleges institutional obstruction and administrative interference.
GG News Bureau
Bhopal, 12th June: A letter written by Madhya Pradesh State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) Chairman Shiv Narayan Singh Chouhan to the state’s Chief Secretary has triggered a controversy over environmental approvals, with allegations of illegal clearances, administrative interference and ecological damage.
In the communication, Chouhan alleged that 237 environmental clearances and Terms of Reference (ToRs) were issued without appraisal by the SEIAA, the statutory body empowered to examine and approve such proposals under environmental regulations.
According to the chairman, the approvals were allegedly issued in coordination with senior officials despite environmental laws vesting the authority to grant clearances solely with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change or the concerned SEIAA.
The letter claims that in several instances environmental clearances and ToRs were issued without being placed before the authority for appraisal or approval.
Chouhan further alleged that some of these approvals resulted in irreversible environmental damage. Citing two specific cases, he claimed that hundreds of trees spread across 17 acres of government forest land were felled after allegedly illegal clearances were granted.
The SEIAA chairman asserted that no action had been taken against officials responsible for the approvals despite repeated complaints.
Seeking intervention, he urged the Chief Secretary to initiate action under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the All India Services Conduct Rules, 1968, and other applicable legal provisions.
The letter also alleges that the functioning of the authority itself was obstructed. Chouhan claimed that his office chamber was locked, preventing him from discharging his responsibilities and hampering the independent functioning of the statutory body.
According to him, repeated representations regarding the issue failed to elicit any administrative response.
Referring to an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dated February 3, 2026, the chairman stated that the tribunal had held that the Principal Secretary and Member Secretary lacked the authority to issue environmental clearances independently.
He claimed the NGT had declared certain approvals void and directed that the cases be reconsidered by the SEIAA. However, despite requests, those matters were allegedly not included in the authority’s agenda for appraisal.
The letter also raises concerns over 39 allegedly illegal deemed Terms of Reference. Chouhan alleged that instead of cancelling these approvals, a senior official issued an order treating the environmental clearances as valid, creating legal uncertainty and administrative deadlock.
One such pending project, according to the chairman, involves an investment of nearly ₹300 crore. He claimed delays arising from the dispute are affecting investment, employment generation and potential GST revenue for the state.
Chouhan has also sought implementation of a January 7, 2025 notification issued by the Centre, which mandates state governments to provide financial and logistical support to SEIAA and expert appraisal committees.
The chairman alleged that instead of strengthening the authority, existing arrangements were weakening its functioning and undermining its statutory role.
The Madhya Pradesh government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations contained in the letter.
