NGT slaps Rs 20L fine on Faridabad builder

The National Green Tribunal has imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on a Faridabad builder for operating sewage treatment plant (STP) without permission from the state pollution control board and polluting the environment.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar slapped the environment compensation on ERA Redwood Residency in Sector 78 in Faridabad and directed it to pay the amount in a week.

"If the compensation is not paid to the Haryana Pollution Control Board within the stipulated period, the same shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue by Faridabad Deputy Commissioner. The Town and Country Planning Department and the board shall ensure that the premises are sealed and their water and electricity supply is disconnected," the bench said.
 

It also slapped fine of Rs 5 lakh each on Omaxe Heights Faridabad, SRS Residency, Puri Pranayam in Sector 85, ERA Redwood Residency, Omaxe New Heights, Summer Palms in Sector 86, SRS Pearl Floors and SRS Royal Hills in sector 87, BPTP Villas in Sector 88, BPTP L Block and BPTP Elite floors in sector 84, and Era Divine Court in sector 76 of Faridabad over faulty STPs.

"We direct that the bank account of these noticees shall stand attached with immediate effect to the extent of Rs 25 lakh. Counsel for the respondents will ensure that no withdrawal are effected from the bank accounts...

This amount would remain attached till the STPs are constructed, upgraded and made fully operational by them. "This will continue till the time their analysis and their discharge are found to be strictly in accordance with the prescribed parameters," the bench said.

The NGT directed the Haryana government, its Urban Development Authority and the town and country planning department to ensure that in entire Faridabad, the sewer line work and installation of STPs was expedited to ensure that no pollutants flow into the Yamuna.

Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for Omaxe, said all the the builders were ready to ensure that there is due compliance to the solid waste management Rules, 2016 and there is no improper waste dumping.

The NGT order came on a petition by Faridabad resident Varun Sheokand who had alleged that group housing societies in Faridabad had been dumping sewage in the open in the absence of proper sewerage connection.