NGT notice to MoEF, UP on plea against Signature City Project

The National Green Tribunal today sought response from the Environment Ministry and the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea challenging the construction of Signature City Project in Kanpur.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Uttar Pradesh government and the Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) while seeking their reply by May 15.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by journalist Ashwini Yadav seeking a stay on Signature City Project as the KDA has not obtained the 'no objection certificate' from the state environment department for its construction.
The plea, filed through advocate Prashant Shukla, alleged that construction wall of the project was touching the wall of the adjacent Allen Forest Zoo putting the lives of fauna to risk.

"Signature City Project's construction site is adjacent to the zoo. A lot of dust particles of cement, sand, soil, and other chemical particles is generated at the construction sites. Due to which it has become the cause of the illness of the animals, birds and creatures there. These dust particles are hazardous for the health of animals, birds, and creatures in the zoo.
"These dust particles are adversely affecting the breathing system of the birds there. When the amount of Particulate Matter increases in the atmosphere it causes diseases in human beings as well. These animals and birds are prone to these diseases due to the air pollution and Particulate Matter generated there in construction site," the plea said.

KDA's Signature City Project is being constructed in Vikas Nagar in Kanpur district. It is a project for the construction of luxury hotels, flats and commercial purposes.
The entire Signature City including the hotels is being constructed on 68,174 sq mt land which has been made available to KDA by UP State Road Transport Corporation on the basis of an MoU signed between the two parties.
The commercial complex, based on theme of a shopping mall, will have a restaurant and a food court. Besides 350 shops, the complex will also have two auditoria and conference rooms while the nine-floored hotel will have 150 rooms, the plea added.