The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday imposed an environmental compensation of ₹5 lakh on Mantri Techzone Private Ltd. for not complying with previous orders pertaining to its project in the Bellandur catchment area.
A bench headed by judicial member Jawad Rahim came down heavily on the company for not submitting a compliance report despite the lapse of a year and imposed the environmental compensation.
“This is non-compliance for over a year now. You have understood the order, then why can’t you comply? You have an obligation to comply. We want a compliance report and not an explanatory report. Be ready for an environmental compensation on each account if you don’t file the report by Monday,” the bench said.
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However, the bench added that the order will be recalled if the bench is ‘convinced’ by the report submitted by the project proponents.
Rapping the company for its ‘casual conduct’, the bench said, “The committee report shows that there is no satisfactory compliance and, as a result, it exposes the project proponent. We give time to them to submit a detailed statement.”
The green panel further specified that out of the total fine amount, 25% had to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) while the remaining amount had to be deposited with the State pollution control board.
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In a detailed judgment passed in 2016, the tribunal had noted submissions made by Mantri Techzone claiming that the project, on the southern side of Bellandur lake, was ‘conceived as a zero waste discharge project’ and that all the requisite clearances had been obtained.
However, the green panel had directed that “reclaimed area of the lake…should be restored to its original condition and possession of this area should be restored by respondent 9 (Mantri Techzone). In addition, a buffer zone of 75 metres should be provided between the lake and project area, and this should be maintained as green area.”
Last March, the green panel had asked the project proponent to submit a compliance report pertaining to the 2016 directions.