The Noida authority has decided to issue notices to five realtors who were found violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders on air pollution around their construction sites.
According to an April 2015 NGT order, a person/builder shall be liable to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 per violation in relation to construction activities and Rs 5,000 for transporting construction material or debris without covering them.
In 2010, guidelines released by the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) said that a realtor, individual or contractor needs to take many precautions during construction activity. Some of the guidelines included protection of vegetation around a construction site, sprinkling water to settle dust, and covering debris with a sheet to prevent spreading of dust. The NGT order directed all authorities to implement these guidelines.
The Noida authority’s decision to issue notices comes after its three-member team found that the five realtors, whose projects are located in sectors 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77, were not adhering to construction guidelines, thus spreading dust in the area.
The authority’s three-member team had conducted an inspection on Wednesday at the project sites in these areas after many residents had lodged complaints that the builders’ projects were leading to noise and air pollution. The team submitted its report on Thursday.
“We have drafted the notices to be sent to these five realtors on Friday. Residents who recently shifted to newly-built group housing societies are facing major issues because builders are brazenly flouting the NGT order. We will give realtors 15 days to reply. Once their replies are filed we will levy heavy penalty,” said Harshvardhan Singh Bhadoriya, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) with the Noida authority. He has been given the responsibility of conducting an inspection and enforcing NGT orders on ground.
He said that as per NGT orders, the authority will levy between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000 on violators. The drive will continue in other areas too.
On April 20, a delegation of residents had met Noida authority’s chief executive officer (CEO) complaining of dust pollution in these areas. The CEO then issued instructions to the officials concerned to look into the matter and take action.
“Realtors have not put up sheets around under-construction sites to stop dust from rising in the air. Construction vehicles ferry sand and other material without covering them properly in sectors where some projects are ready and others are being built,” said Amit Gupta, a software engineer from Sector 77.
