GHAZIABAD: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought responses from 25 respondents, including the district magistrate, development authority, UP housing and development board and GMC in connection with a petition that claims several malls and eateries were operating without no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the pollution board. The respondents have to revert with their replies in two months.
The tribunal has directed to serve notices to the 25 respondents through the district magistrate.
Among the entities questioned by the green tribunal are Eros and Shipra malls in Indirapuram, Galaxy mall in Sahibabad, Hotel Banquet in Vasundhara, Clarks Inn in Kaushambi, and Vaishali’s Shopprix mall as well as Ansal Plaza, among several others.
The Uttar Pradesh pollution control board (UPPCB) had submitted a pollution report to NGT in July this year, stating that it show cause notices have been issued to over 20 establishments in the district for operating without an NOC. The notices were under the provisions of Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act and Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act.
However, NGT mentioned that there were ‘serious lapses in enforcement of environmental laws/norms’ in the report.
The second report submitted by the board last month was purportedly not in the correct format, therefore they have been directed to resubmit it.
Petitioner Pradeep Dhalia said, “The NGT has further included all the respondents to give their responses within 2 months. The Ghaziabad DM has been asked to take charge of it”.
The case will be taken up next on December 19.
