Supreme Court Directs TTZ Authority To Process 400 Pending Applications For Non-Polluting MSMEs

Lucknow, Sep 5 (KNN) The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) Authority to process around 400 pending applications for setting up pollution-free micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the ecologically sensitive area around the Taj Mahal.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed the TTZ Authority to examine the applications in consultation with the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), PTI reported.

The bench took note of the submission of the cumulative impact assessment (CIA) report on proposals to establish MSMEs before the TTZ Authority.

“It goes without saying that applications (for setting up industries) shall be examined in terms of our order dated July 23, 2026,” the bench said.

Applications to Be Scrutinised by Experts

On July 23, the Supreme Court had permitted the TTZ Authority to process around 400 pending applications for setting up non-polluting MSMEs, subject to expert scrutiny by the CEC and NEERI.

The court had directed that if either of the expert bodies raised an objection, the concerned application would not be accepted without the court's permission.

The latest direction comes in the long-pending matter concerning industrial activity in the 10,400-sq km TTZ, where the Supreme Court has imposed stringent restrictions since 1996 to protect the Taj Mahal from pollution.

The court noted that key studies, including the TTZ vision document and NEERI's final report on the definition of non-polluting industries, are still pending. However, it said their pendency should not prevent the TTZ Authority from considering applications already received.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the bench that the CIA report had been filed.

Environmental Safeguards

The court had earlier taken note of submissions by the Attorney General and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that proposals for non-polluting MSMEs, including flour mills, could be considered.

Senior advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for an intervenor, opposed any dilution of environmental safeguards and alleged that industries had earlier been permitted in the Firozabad area despite advice from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change against their establishment.

The bench also referred to its December 30, 1996 order prohibiting the use of coal and coke in the TTZ and directing 293 industries around Agra to switch to natural gas to curb pollution while allowing industrial development.

(KNN Bureau)