This was mentioned in a counter-affidavit filed by NHAI director in the High Court in response to a batch of PILs and writ petitions challenging the project
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/tamil-nadu-awaiting-environment-ministry-clearance-gec-says-national-highways-authority-india
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/new-indian-express-chennai
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/tamil-nadu
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/roads
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/highways
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/thesaurus/environment-clearance-ec
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/national-highways-authority-india-nhai
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/public-interest-litigation-pil
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/high-court
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/habitat-and-urbanisation