NGT orders halt to construction activity in Noida Extension,

The National Green Tribunal today directed "immediate" stoppage of construction activity in specific stretch of areas in Noida Extension and Gurgaon by taking note of media reports on air pollution caused by building activities.

The areas identified are 2-km stretch from NH-24 to Char Murti chowk in Noida Extension and Golf Course, Gurgaon, on either side of the road.

A bench, headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said various newspapers have reported about the huge dust emissions, including dust components, in the air resulting from construction activity in various parts of NCR Delhi.

"In these reports, buildings are being constructed along the 2-km stretch from NH-24 to Char Murti chowk in Noida Extension and Golf Course Gurgaon on either side of the road. Uncontrolled and high dust emissions are visible in the photographs. No protective measures have been taken in and around the buildings under construction.

"Vide our earlier orders we had passed clear direction as to the steps the persons responsible for building the construction activity need to follow. There is fragrant violation of those directions. Besides this, construction has to be carried out in accordance with the Environment Ministry's Environment Impact Assessment Guidance Manual for Building, Construction, Townships and Area Development Project. All these have been blatantly violated," the bench noted.

The Tribunal said that at eight construction sites in Noida Extension, no protective measures have been taken and there was absolutely no check on dust emissions and the same state of affairs prevailed in Delhi.

"We direct state of Uttar Pradesh, Noida and Greater Noida authorities, HUDA, Haryana government and NCT Delhi to immediately direct stoppage of construction activity of buildings shown in reports. Construction activity shall be stopped wherever it is carried out in violation of NGT directions as well as 2010 MoEF guidelines.

"This action shall be complied with by all the state authorities and police of each district. Compliance report shall be submitted by the next date of hearing. Where construction is not stopped by service of these orders, the authorities shall seize the building and report the matter to the Tribunal," the bench said while hearing a petition related to air pollution.