<p>The National Green Tribunal on Friday quashed the environmental clearance (EC) granted to a high-rise luxury project by Godrej Properties Limited and Wonder Projects Development Private Limited near Kaikondarahalli Lake at Kasavanahalli, Varthur Hobli in Bengaluru outskirts and directed immediate demolition of the construction.<br /><br />The Principal Bench of the NGT headed by its chairperson Adarsha Kumar Goel also imposed a penalty of Rs 31 crore on the project developers.<br /><br />The bench said the money should be used for demolition of the constructions, restoration of the area to the original position, rejuvenation and reforestation of the Kaikondarahalli Lake and its surrounding area.<br /><br />The bench also imposed a cost of Rs 10 lakh on Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which allowed construction/alteration of Storm Water Drain passing through the project site "illegally". The green tribunal also imposed litigation cost of Rs 20 lakh on project developers and the same should be deposited with Central Pollution Control Board and to be utilised for the protection and preservation of the environment.<br /><br />The NGT passed this order after hearing petitions filed by a Bengaluru resident H P Rajanna and Mahadevpura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti (MAPSAS)<br /> against the project, which is coming up at survey nos. 61/2, 62 and 63/2, Kasavanahalli village, Varthur Hobli, Bengaluru East Taluk. <br /><br />Challenging the environment clearances granted to the project, Ramprasad, advocate representing MPSAS, argued that building high-rise structures in the area would lead to ecological damage to the area between Kaikondarahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes. The project sites are abutting Kaikondarahalli Lake and are at a distance of about 300 to 400 meters from another Kasavanahalli Lake, the petitioner argued.<br /> <br />While cancelling the environment clearances issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on January 10, 2018, the NGT said the construction raised by the project proponents commenced even before KSPCB granted consent and was in violation of conditions of EC. The constructions made on the site shall be demolished immediately, the bench said.<br /><br />“We impose compensation for damage to the environment as 10 percent of the cost of the project. The cost of the project mentioned in the application submitted for grant of EC was Rs 31 crore, hence, project proponent has been directed to pay Rs 31 crore.</p>
<p>The National Green Tribunal on Friday quashed the environmental clearance (EC) granted to a high-rise luxury project by Godrej Properties Limited and Wonder Projects Development Private Limited near Kaikondarahalli Lake at Kasavanahalli, Varthur Hobli in Bengaluru outskirts and directed immediate demolition of the construction.<br /><br />The Principal Bench of the NGT headed by its chairperson Adarsha Kumar Goel also imposed a penalty of Rs 31 crore on the project developers.<br /><br />The bench said the money should be used for demolition of the constructions, restoration of the area to the original position, rejuvenation and reforestation of the Kaikondarahalli Lake and its surrounding area.<br /><br />The bench also imposed a cost of Rs 10 lakh on Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which allowed construction/alteration of Storm Water Drain passing through the project site "illegally". The green tribunal also imposed litigation cost of Rs 20 lakh on project developers and the same should be deposited with Central Pollution Control Board and to be utilised for the protection and preservation of the environment.<br /><br />The NGT passed this order after hearing petitions filed by a Bengaluru resident H P Rajanna and Mahadevpura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti (MAPSAS)<br /> against the project, which is coming up at survey nos. 61/2, 62 and 63/2, Kasavanahalli village, Varthur Hobli, Bengaluru East Taluk. <br /><br />Challenging the environment clearances granted to the project, Ramprasad, advocate representing MPSAS, argued that building high-rise structures in the area would lead to ecological damage to the area between Kaikondarahalli and Kasavanahalli lakes. The project sites are abutting Kaikondarahalli Lake and are at a distance of about 300 to 400 meters from another Kasavanahalli Lake, the petitioner argued.<br /> <br />While cancelling the environment clearances issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on January 10, 2018, the NGT said the construction raised by the project proponents commenced even before KSPCB granted consent and was in violation of conditions of EC. The constructions made on the site shall be demolished immediately, the bench said.<br /><br />“We impose compensation for damage to the environment as 10 percent of the cost of the project. The cost of the project mentioned in the application submitted for grant of EC was Rs 31 crore, hence, project proponent has been directed to pay Rs 31 crore.</p>
