Following a plea alleging that Noida’s Spectrum Mall was constructed without obtaining requisite environment clearances, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to submit a report.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel observed on Monday, “The allegation in this application is that a commercial project, Spectrum Mall, was illegally constructed in Noida. No valid environmental clearance was taken. In view of the above allegation, we consider it necessary to require the SEIAA to furnish a report about factual aspects of the matter.”
SEIAA has been asked to submit its report to the tribunal by November 9. The direction came during the hearing of a plea by Dharmendra Singh, who alleged that construction was completed without obtaining environmental clearance.
“Construction of the project is complete. It started in 2016 and finished in 2017. Environmental clearance was taken later. It is further stated that the status of project depicted while seeking environmental clearance was ‘proposed project’,” the Bench observed, while noting the allegations by the petitioner. Mr. Singh has also alleged that final clearance was granted in June 2018.
Warning authorities of action in case of non-compliance, the Bench added, “Needless to say, the order of the NGT is binding as a decree of court and non-compliance is actionable by way of punitive action, including prosecution.”