National Green Tribunal: In an original application against unauthorized and illegal construction of houses, shops and commercial establishments in Greater Noida and Noida in violation of environmental norms, Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member) issued notice to the Centre, State Government, builders, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board and others.
In the matter at hand, the applicant was aggrieved by the illegal construction of houses, shops and other commercial establishments on a large scale in Greater Noida and Noida in violation of environmental norms. The applicant’s grievance was that these illegal constructions were being done with topsoil which was leading to large scale illegal mining of the topsoil in and around the villages, resulting in deep, catastrophic pits. The applicant also alleged that these constructions were being done without obtaining mandatory consent to establish and operate under Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). It was also alleged that colonies were being developed without any proper sewerage network and required consent under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and without any Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) to draw water from tubewells.
The Tribunal took note of the places where the illegal construction was being carried out and said that the present application raised substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms.
The Tribunal directed to serve notice to the Centre Government, State of Uttar Pradesh, UPPCB, District Ground Water Management Council, Gautam Budh Nagar, Bhagwati Developers, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, Ghaziabad Developers and Builders, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, Central Pollution Control Board, Noida Power Company Ltd. and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The matter was further listed for a hearing on 08-07-2024.
[Rajendra Tyagi v. Union of India, 2024 SCC OnLine NGT 228, Order dated: 02-04-2024]
