Pollution Board files case against a firm

Punjab Pollution Control Board has initiated criminal proceedings against a real estate company, in which a ruling SAD MLA is one of the directors, for violating the environment protections norms.
N K Sharma, SAD MLA from Dera Bassi, is also the state's chief parliamentary secretary (Industry).
The Board has filed a criminal case against the firm in the local court at Dera Bassi in Mohali for not getting environment clearance for a housing project coming up at Bishanpura village in Zirakpur, a PPCB official said here today.
The company commenced construction of the flats at the housing project without getting environment clearance for the project in advance which is a violation of Ministry of Environment and Forests notification (MoEF) 2006, the official said.

As per notification dated September 14, 2006, issued by MoEF, environment clearance is necessary for setting up a project.
Sharma was not available for comment despite repeated attempts to contact him.