NGT orders razing Godrej Properties and Wonder projects in Bengaluru

The National Green Tribunal has cancelled the environmental clearance (EC) of a high-rise luxury project by Wonder Projects Development Private Limited and Godrej Properties Limited in Bengaluru and ordered immediate demolition of the project. The green panel told the media that they impose coverage for damage to the environment as 10% of the project cost. It ordered a penalty of Rs 31 crore on the project proponent. The amount will be used for the destruction of the buildings, renovation of the area to the original position, rejuvenation and reforestation of the Kaikondrahalli lake and its surrounding region. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel imposed Rs 10 lakh on Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that approved construction/alteration of Storm Water Drain passing through the project site illegally. The order came on a petition registered by Bengaluru resident H P Rajanna against the project, Godrej Reflections, being constructed at Kasavanahalli village in Varthur Hobli in Battleground Urban district. Godrej Properties spokesperson told the media that NGT passed an opposing order concerning one of their projects in Bengaluru. The order did not consider all assertions and arguments presented by them. It is the second time NGT has cancelled the EC. The Supreme Court had earlier set aside the NGT order revoking the environmental clearance given to the project. Noting that the construction raised by the project proponent began even before granting of approval to install by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and in infringement of provisions of EC, the NGT Friday ordered that the buildings made on-site should be razed immediately. The tribunal told the media that the penalty would be used by preparing a restoration plan by the said authority with the help of the BBMP, KSPCB and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Restoration plan shall be implemented by State Wetland Authority, and BBMP which may also be managed by KSPCB and CPCB, it said. NGT told the media that the restoration plan should be prepared within two months and implemented within a year while making it clear that if any amount remains available after undertaking the restoration work, it would be used by the Wetland Authority for maintenance and beautification of the lakes in question. The bench said that BBMP would make up the deficiency amount if it is found to be deficient. If any question remains unsolved, but in the authorities, the National Wetland Authority is ordered to fix the same. The tribunal said that the confidence of the project proponent in moving ahead at different levels without considering Statutory Provisions, Procedures and Environmental Laws, approved by some of the statutory authorities is visible by the direction of senior officers of various departments who were elected members of the Committee by Tribunal and Environment Ministry, yet they opposed the same. The bench said that there is an evident absence of bonafide on the part of the officials and this conduct deserves to be strongly condemned. They requested the Secretary, MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forest), to look into the case and take relevant action against such erring authorities. Image Source Also read: DTCP razes two illegal colonies in Gurugram Also read: DTCP ramps up action against illegal constructions in Gurugram