Omaxe head to appear before green tribunal

Guilty of using groundwater for construction in Noida, Gr Noida

The chairman and managing director of Omaxe Ltd has been directed by the national green tribunal to appear before it for alleged violation of its order restraining the use of groundwater during construction in Noida and Greater Noida.

Besides the direction to Omaxe Ltd’s Rohtash Goel, the national green tribunal also issued notices to the managing directors of Cosmic Corporate Park and Ram Ratan Real Estate in Greater Noida asking them to appear before it on February 28 for allegedly violating the tribunal’s order.

“It is contended that Omaxe Ltd whose managing director is Rohtas Goel, had not stopped despite public notice and intimation,” said the bench, headed by chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar.

“In view of the fact that Omaxe, Cosmic Corporate Park and Ram Ratan Real Estate, Greater Noida have violated the order passed by the tribunal on January 11, 2013, prima facie we are satisfied that they ought to be proceeded against in accordance with law,” added the bench. “Let notice be issued for personal appearance of Rohtash Goel and other two concerns through managing partner or proprietor shall be present before the tribunal on next date of hearing.”

The bench also comprising its judicial member justice P Jyothimani directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and other authorities to hold a meeting and evolve guidelines, as well as furnish year-wise data before the tribunal regarding the level of underground water in Greater Noida from 2006 till date.

The tribunal also directed the authorities to furnish complete details of the “functioning of illegal packaging of drinking water industry and source of water adopted by them for carrying on their business and whether such industries are functioning with requisite permission or not.”The tribunal had said its order restraining all builders of Noida and Greater Noida from “extracting” groundwater for construction or any other purpose, will continue till the next date of hearing.