The National Green Tribunal has refused to vacate a 2015 order that restrained construction and transfer of possession of flats on the Yamuna floodplain in Agra.
Plea by builders
Following a plea moved by two builders seeking lifting of the ban, a Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore said, “We are of the considered opinion that there is no just reason to grant the relief prayed by the applicant at this stage.”
Committee report
The green panel noted that the report filed by an inspection committee was against the builders with respect to the location of construction on the floodplain.
The direction came while the tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Agra builders Kalyani Buildwell Pvt Ltd and Ganpati Infrastructure Development Company Ltd that sought lifting of the ban imposed by the NGT.
The green panel had said earlier, “We restrain any further construction, occupancy or transfer of possession of the built-up structure by the builders to any parties. We direct SEIAA [State Environment Impact Assessment Authority], the Agra Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to conduct a joint inspection of these buildings in addition to the buildings which are otherwise located in the floodplain area.”