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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed its disapproval with the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for proceeding with the Purab Premium Apartments project without mandatory legal clearances. GMADA failed to obtain Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate, and its environmental clearance expired in 2020. The NGT ordered an investigation to identify responsible officials and demanded a compliance report within three months. The Punjab Pollution Control Board imposed an INR 1.02 crore fine for violations, with further penalties under review. The case underscores environmental risks, governance failures, and the need for stricter enforcement of environmental laws in urban development.
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has come under fire from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for proceeding with its Purab Premium Apartments housing project in Mohali without fulfilling mandatory legal requirements. The NGT expressed its disapproval, noting that GMADA failed to obtain the necessary Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate, both of which are essential under the law. Advertisement
The tribunal, while reviewing a case concerning environmental clearance (EC) violations linked to the project, referred to an earlier report submitted by a designated panel. This report outlined multiple violations, such as the absence of a sewage treatment plant (STP), the failure to obtain mandatory consents, and the non-renewal of EC, which expired in February 2020.
A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, stated that GMADA, as a statutory body, is not above the law. The bench criticised the authority for continuing with the project without adhering to legal requirements and termed the situation "strange and surprising."
The NGT has directed GMADA's Chief Administrative Officer to investigate and identify the officers responsible for these lapses. The tribunal also instructed that appropriate action be taken within three months, with a report on the actions submitted thereafter.
In its report, the Punjab Pollution Control Board revealed that an environmental compensation of INR 1.02 crore had been imposed on GMADA for violations occurring between August 2022 and March 2023. While this amount has been deposited, the tribunal has asked the board to reassess and levy compensation for violations outside this timeframe, both before and after the specified period.
The absence of an STP and other environmental safeguards raises concerns about the potential impact on the local environment and public health. Untreated sewage can contaminate groundwater, degrade soil quality, and pose significant health risks to residents of Purab Premium Apartments and surrounding areas. Such oversights also strain existing municipal infrastructure, further aggravating urban environmental challenges.
This is not the first instance where statutory bodies or real estate developers have been found violating environmental laws. Similar lapses in other regions highlight systemic issues in enforcing regulations. By addressing GMADA's violations, the NGT sets a precedent for stricter compliance across India, signalling that no authority is above the law.
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