‘Violating green norms’: National Green Tribunal notice to housing firm

NEW DELHI:  The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to a city-based builder for allegedly violating the sanction plan of a Ghaziabad housing project and ‘excessive’ illicit construction.

A complaint was filed in the green court relating to the construction of a group housing project, ‘Nipun Saffron Valley’ by Nipun Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd., allegedly in violation of the environmental norms and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

Considering the plea, the NGT had constituted a joint committee comprising the Director, Central Pollution Control Board, Member Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Member Secretary, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, and District Magistrate, Ghaziabad.

Going through the panel report on December 6, the tribunal noted that “in the development of the project in question, there are violations of environmental laws and norms and prima facie the project should not be allowed to continue without complying with the environmental laws.”

“However, we find from the record that notices have not been issued to the respondents, therefore, to give the opportunity of hearing the concerned parties, we direct the Registry to issue notices to the respondents who may file their response within two weeks after receipt of the notice,” the tribunal said in an order.

The NGT further said, “In the meantime, we remind the state pollution control board and its officials about their statutory duties and to ensure that no activities in violation of environmental laws should be allowed to continue and appropriate remedial, preventive, and punitive action should be taken by them against violators,” the bench said.