NGT Directs Uttarakhand Authorities to File Response on Haridwar Housing Project
The National Green Tribunal has issued a clear directive to two key Uttarakhand authorities. The tribunal ordered the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and the Haridwar-Roorkee Development Authority to submit their official responses. These responses must address serious allegations concerning the Mantra Happy Homes Group housing project in Haridwar.
Allegations of Illegal Construction and Environmental Violations
The case centers on multiple claims of wrongdoing at the residential development. A local resident named Sanjeev Kumar filed the original petition that triggered this legal action. He presented detailed allegations about the project's operations and approvals.
According to the petition, the housing project received initial approval for 170 flats and 68 plots. This original plan included a designated green park area measuring 2,202.7 square metres. However, the petitioner claims significant changes occurred without proper authorization.
The project proponent allegedly revised the sanctioned plan in collaboration with the concerned authority. This revision increased the total number of flats to 272 units. Crucially, this expansion happened without any proportional increase in the land area. The petitioner further states that less than half of the approved green area actually exists at the site today.
Environmental Clearance and Compliance Issues
The petition raises serious concerns about environmental regulations. The project area reportedly exceeds 20,000 square metres. At this size, the development should have obtained mandatory environmental clearance under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006. The petitioner asserts this clearance was never secured.
Even the conditions set by the pollution control board appear to have been ignored. The board had approved the project establishment subject to specific requirements. These included developing a three-tier green belt around the property. They also mandated installation of a fully functional sewage treatment plant. Furthermore, the project needed to obtain consent to operate after meeting all pollution control norms.
Sanjeev Kumar claims none of these terms were properly complied with by the developers. This represents a significant breach of environmental safeguards meant to protect the local ecosystem.
Additional Violations and Legal Proceedings
The petition details several other concerning practices at the Mantra Happy Homes project. Possession of flats was reportedly handed over to buyers as early as December 2017. This transfer occurred even before the project received its consent to operate authorization.
The Consolidated Consent and Authorisation, previously known as Consent to Operate, expired in March 2020. This authorization has not been renewed since that expiration date. The lapse means the project has been operating without valid environmental permissions for an extended period.
Additional complaints mention an illegal borewell on the property. There are also allegations of encroachment on the designated green area. Even environmental compensation imposed by the pollution control board remains unrecovered according to the petition.
The National Green Tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for April 7. The tribunal issued its initial order on January 12 after reviewing the petitioner's claims. Both the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and Haridwar-Roorkee Development Authority must now prepare detailed responses addressing each allegation before the scheduled hearing date.
