Judgement of the National Green Tribunal regarding a construction company violating environmental norms, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 04/03/2025
Judgment of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Green Wood City Village Jan Welfare Society & Others Vs Godwin Construction Company & Others dated March 4, 2025.
Green Wood City Villa Jan Welfare Society and Green Wood City Residents Welfare Association filed the application raising a complaint of improper handling, management and disposal of sewage and solid waste in the area developed by M/s. Godwin Construction Company, Meerut creating unhygienic conditions causing damage to the environment. The NGT, March 4, 2025 directed Godwin Construction Company, Meerut to make provisions for treatment of sewage generated in the project area by constructing STP of requisite capacity and make it operational within six months. For disposal of solid waste in scientific manner and in compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 requisite steps should be taken by the Resident Welfare Association. Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) need to ensure compliance of environmental laws and norms in respect to handling, management and disposal of solid waste in accordance with environmental laws and norms and if there is any violation, appropriate action should be taken against the violators.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), March 4, 2025 directed Godwin Construction Company, Meerut as an interim measure to pay environmental compensation of Rs 10 crores and deposit the same within three months with UPPCB. Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board was directed to collect relevant information, including project cost from project proponent Godwin Construction Company and Meerut Development Authority. Thereafter compute final environmental compensation. Amount of environmental compensation should be utilzed for remediation and rejuvenation ofo the already damaged environment in the area concerned in accordance with the Environment Development Plan which shall be prepared by Joint Committee comprising UPPCB and District Magistrate, Meerut wherein District Magistrate would be the nodal agency. This plan shall be prepared within 2 months and executed in the next 4 months.
Meerut Development Authority (MDA) in the meantime should take necessary steps to ensure that sewage is not collected in the project area in violation of Section 24 of Water Act, 1974 and if connecting pipeline is to be replaced with a higher capacity line, necessary steps shall be taken by MDA. This action should be taken by MDA within 2 months. A compliance report should be submitted in respect of all the directions by UPPCB before the Registrar General of the NGT by August 15, 2025.