Plea in NGT challenging construction of engg college in Agra

An environmentalist has approached the National Green Tribunal challenging the construction of a private engineering college inside the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Agra.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter issued notices to Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Uttar Pradesh government, Hindustan Institute of Management and Technology and others on a plea filed by Agra resident D K Joshi, also a member of a committee formed by the Supreme Court to study pollution and waste management in Agra.
"The construction has come up without obtaining required environment clearance as required under EIA Notification, 2006, No Objection Certificate from Pollution Control Board, Forest Clearance and any permission from National Board for Wildlife and in violation of Wetland (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2010," the petition said.

The plea has sought the demolition of illegal structure, quashing of environmental clearances and action against state officials besides restoration of the area.
It alleged that Hindustan Institute of Management and Technology, a unit of Sharda Group of Institutions, is discharging noxious effluents directly into Keetham lake in the sanctuary without treatment.
The plea claimed that the college "managed" to procure NOC from the district administration of Agra that the land is not being use for agriculture or horticulture "in violation of the provisions of the Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 which prohibits such change of land use".