Jaipur, Nov. 3 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Central Zone Bench, Bhopal, has dismissed a petition alleging violations of environmental clearance norms in the development of the Karni Industrial Area (Extension) in Rajasthan's Bikaner district, holding that the allegations were devoid of merit. The application was filed against the Bikaner collector and six other respondents, including the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO). It alleged that RIICO began development and construction work in the industrial area without obtaining mandatory environmental clearance (EC), in violation of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. The petition also questioned the approval of construction activities and commencement of industrial production by Bikaji Foods International Limited before the industrial area received environmental clearance. After examining the submissions, official records and a joint committee report, the tribunal noted that RIICO obtained environmental clearance for the industrial area on April 11, 2017, while Bikaji Foods International Limited had secured a separate clearance on April 30, 2014. It further observed that neither the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) nor the joint committee had reported any violation of environmental norms. The bench comprising judicial member Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, held that allegations against the company could not automatically be attributed to RIICO. The case was heard and reserved for judgment on October 28. The order was uploaded on November 2, 2026....