BHUBANESWAR: In a stern action, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed the appeal of a city-based builder, who moved the green body against a show-cause notice issued to one of its prominent projects by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Odisha.
SEIAA, on Feb 18, issued the show-cause notice to the city-based realtor for violation of norms prescribed in the Environmental Certificate (EC) issued to one of its mega housing projects being executed in Kalarahanga, Bhubaneswar.
The realtor, instead of complying with the show-cause notice, approached the NGT against SEIAA. Hearing the case, the NGT bench stated that the appeal is not maintainable against a show-cause notice since it is not an order but a process of proceedings leading to an order.
SEIAA issued the show-cause notice asking the builder to comply with the requirement of installation of DG stack height as recommended by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board for its already completed units of Phase I, which comprise one 14-floor structure, and Phase II, which consists of six 16-floor structures.
The SEIAA, issuing the notice, also stalled the construction work on the third phase of the project, which comprises 17 structures of 21 storeys each. The SEIAA, in its show-cause notice, also asked the builder why the EC should not be revoked for such violations.
Hearing the appeal on the show-cause notice, the NGT bench stated that it is clear that no appeal lies to the National Green Tribunal against a show-cause notice. “The appellants have not filed their reply to the said show-cause notice dated February 18, 2025,” reads the NGT hearing.
It stated that, be that as it may, the present appeal against the impugned show-cause notice dated Feb 18, 2025, is not maintainable. “This appeal is therefore dismissed as it is not maintainable at the Tribunal,” the NGT hearing concludes.
