OMAXE Ltd CMD asked to appear before NGT for violating order

The Chief Managing Director of real estate developer OMAXE Ltd has been directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to appear before it for alleged violation of its order restraining use of ground water during construction activities in Noida and Greater Noida. Besides the direction to OMAXE Ltd's Rohtash Goel, the NGT also issued notices to the managing directors of Cosmic Corporate Park and Ram Ratan Real Estate in Greater Noida asking them to appear before it on February 28 for allegedly violating the tribunal's order. "It is contended that OMAXE Ltd whose Managing Director (MD) is Rohtash Goel, had not stopped despite public notice and intimation... The petitioner has also filed an affidavit wherein he has annexed photographs of two concerns Cosmic Corporate Park and Ram Ratan Real Estate, Greater Noida," the bench, headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said. "In view of the fact that the above three industries have violated the order passed by the Tribunal on January 11, 2013, prima facie we are satisfied that they ought to be proceeded against in accordance with law. Let notice be issued for personal appearance of Rohtash Goel and other two concerns through Managing Partner/Managing Director/Proprietor shall be present before the Tribunal on next date of hearing," it said. The bench also comprising its judicial member Justice P Jyothimani, meanwhile, directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and other authorities to immediately hold a meeting and evolve guidelines, as well as furnish year-wise data before this tribunal of the level of underground water in Greater Noida from 2006 till date. The tribunal also directed the authorities to furnish complete details of the "functioning of illegal packaging of drinking water industry and source of water adopted by them for carrying on their business and whether such industries are functioning with requisite permission or not". (More)