BHUBANESWAR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) halted construction of a major real estate project in Ghatikia as the promoter had failed to meet the conditions specified by the authorities for issuance of environmental clearance for the project.
According to sources, the realtor took building plan approval from Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) for constructing 12 towers in a residential project. The builder completed construction of eight towers. Later it applied for environmental clearance from the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Odisha, which asked it to build a stormwater drain before proceeding with the construction of the remaining towers.
The builder, however, failed to comply with the condition, following which SEIAA, on Jan 27, issued a show-cause notice asking why the environmental clearance should not be revoked for the entire project. Since the builder continued with the construction, a complaint was filed before the NGT recently.
Sanu Das, a resident of an apartment in one of the eight towers in the same project, reached out to the NGT with the complaint that the realtor is defying norms and expanding the project, which will have a great impact on the nearby areas. The NGT, while hearing the plea, stated that the issue of environmental clearance was subject to the conditions laid down by the SEIAA, namely obtaining an occupancy certificate and consent to operate for the four towers after completion of the stormwater drain and conversion of the said land to homestead.
“As per SEIAA, Odisha, the project proponent failed to submit compliance with the environmental clearance condition, and therefore a show-cause notice dated Jan 27, was issued as to why environmental clearance should not be revoked for non-compliance even though one-and-a-half years have passed,” the order read.
During the hearing, the counsel of the realtor argued that the project proponent should not be restrained from proceeding with any building and construction work as it will affect workers who are already at the site. Rejecting the submission, the NGT stated in its order that the condition of the environmental clearance must be complied with by the project proponent before it can be permitted to proceed with the construction work.
The NGT also gave a 15-day period to the realtor to comply with the conditions of SEIAA. Despite several attempts, the chief executive of the real estate firm didn’t respond to calls and messages.
