It has also issued notices to six other respondents, including the state and the central governments, directing them to file their replies over a writ petition filed DK Joshi, a member of the Supreme Court monitoring committee, by November 17.

In his writ petition, Joshi alleged that the Sharda Group's Anand engineering college, located on National Highway-2, carried out illegal construction within the national bird sanctuary in violation of environment, wildlife and forest Acts.

He added that on September 23, 2012, the Agra division of the National Chambal Sanctuary Project (which comes under the state forest department), had sealed the engineering college for violating wildlife norms. The college had then gone to the Allahabad High Court seeking a stay order, but the court had not ruled in its favour.

Instead, the high court had stated asked the Agra district magistrate to ensure strict compliance of the orders of the National Chamber Sanctuary.

"The National Chambal Sanctuary had directed the Agra DM in November, 2012, to take appropriate steps to close the college. However, no action was taken by the official," Joshi said, adding that it was on this basis that he had filed his petition.

While admitting the writ petition on Wednesday, the NGT said there was merit in the petitioner's submissions and passed the stay order on construction till the next date of hearing (November 17).

Notices have been issued to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Uttar Pradesh government, state-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, UP Pollution Control Board, UP forest department and Agra Development authority.

In the writ petition, Joshi alleged that construction was being carried out by the college in connivance with government officials.

He demanded immediate cancellation of environmental clearance granted to the college, in addition to cancellation of no objection certificate issued by the UP pollution control board. He further said an order should be passed by the court directing the college to demolish the buildings it has built inside the reserved area and restore the sanctuary.

Joshi alleged that in addition to the illegal construction work, the college has consistently been indulging in illegal activities that pose a grave threat to the existence of the sanctuary and the wildlife with in it. "The college has been polluting the Keetham lake since many years by discharging its untreated sewage directly with in the lake," the petition read.

When contacted, Y K Gupta, vice chairman of Sharda Group said they had not received any NGT order. He added, "No construction work has been going in the college for the last two and half years. One sewage treatment plant has been installed to treat the water."