NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has mandated the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to investigate claims that certain under-construction projects in Greater Noida are continuing despite having received closure orders for breaching environmental regulations.
A bench, comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad, was examining a case concerning alleged breaches of environmental norms, including the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification and required consents to establish (CTE) and operate (CTO) from the UPPCB.
The petition was submitted by BJP leader and former municipal corporator Rajendra Tyagi, represented by Advocate Akash Vashishtha.
During the proceeding, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) informed the tribunal that it is currently reviewing details of the constructions reportedly violating environmental standards and requested four weeks to submit a detailed report identifying these projects.
Advocate Vashishtha referenced the UPPCB’s affidavit from March 25, which pointed out five under-construction projects, claiming that M/s Ghaziabad & Developers Builders, Bhagwati Developers (Dwarka City Colony or Samtel Enclave in Chhapraula village), and M/s Sahara Enclave/City along GT Road were continuing their work despite closure orders.
“The UPPCB is directed to verify and ensure that these projects do not proceed in breach of the closure order. A report should be filed within four weeks,” the tribunal stated in an order on July 23, made public on Monday.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 24.
In its affidavit concerning the five projects, the UPPCB mentioned that closure orders and environmental penalties of Rs 21.40 lakh were imposed on M/s Ghaziabad & Developers Builders, Bhagwati Developers, and M/s Sahara Enclave/City. Other projects, including M/s PP Estate and M/s Escon Pride Villa, also received closure orders with imposed penalties.
