Following allegations of construction in a green area of a housing complex in Gurugram, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to furnish a report on the remedial action.
Directing the Union Environment Ministry to furnish the report within one month, a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said: “Report of the MoEFCC on the issue of environmental compensation in terms of order dated January 2018, is still awaited, though more than one year has gone.”
“It is made clear that there will be no further adjournment on any account without adverse orders against the party in default,” the Bench said.
The directions came when the green panel was hearing a plea, which alleged that construction was taking place in open spaces in Ambience Lagoon apartment housing complex.
‘Groundwater extraction’
“The applicants are residents of the colony. Open areas in the colony are shrinking and groundwater extraction is excessive. Air quality is deteriorating and the builder has undertaken the construction of open spaces blocking the fresh air and sunlight,” the plea said.
The green panel also noted the findings of an NGT-appointed local commissioner, which said a nursery school had been constructed on a “green area.”
“Ready mix concrete carrying trucks were found creating high decibel noise. The sewage treatment plant was found engulfing with foam,” the report had said.
However, the developers had contended that the “project has been integrated with a larger project called “Ambience Island” and the total green area of 15% was being maintained, meaning thereby that there could be no objection to the original green area being occupied.”