Pimpri-Chinchwad Housing Projects To Receive Environmental Approvals After Nine-Month Delay

Pimpri-Chinchwad, 7th May 2025: After a nine-month deadlock, the environmental clearance for several multi-crore housing projects in Pimpri-Chinchwad has finally been resolved. The High Court has directed the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to grant approvals to these projects within eight weeks.

Earlier, projects spanning over 20,000 square meters in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and a surrounding five-kilometer radius were mandated to seek clearance from the Central Environmental Ministry’s committee due to the area being classified as “highly polluted”. However, in January, the Central Ministry issued a notification allowing large projects to seek clearance from the state-level SEIAA. This notification was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court, prompting Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) Pune to move the High Court.

The Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) for the Pimpri-Chinchwad area in 2024 was recorded at 32.52, significantly lower than the threshold for severely polluted zones. Citing this data, CREDAI argued that the area does not qualify as a highly polluted zone and that projects should be permitted to seek approvals from the state committee as before.

The High Court has now directed the SEIAA to consider the CEPI data and grant clearances to the projects as per current norms within the stipulated eight-week period.

Over 100 projects in Pune, valued collectively at approximately ₹30,000 crore, were impacted by the delay in environmental clearances. These projects, ranging from 20,000 to 150,000 square meters, were stalled for over six months, affecting both developers and prospective homebuyers.

The prolonged delay led to a reduction in housing supply over the past year, impacting not only the real estate market but also government revenue from property sales and associated taxes. The decision is expected to provide much-needed relief to developers, potential homeowners, and the overall real estate sector.