In a major turnabout, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) lifted ban on the construction works in 33 meters periphery of the Kaliyasot River.
The NGT in a meeting here on Wednesday provided this big relief to all those builders and developers whose projects were struck up from the past one and half year due to the ban imposed by the green body. The NGT ban was affecting about 18 big projects, 256 Khasra and about 350 small and big plots.
The U-turn of the NGT came after hearing over environmentalist Subhash C Pande’s plea over backlog of the Kaliyasot River. The State Government submitted its reply over the issue. The State Government told in its reply that following NGT order district administration and Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) squads started removing debris from September 18 and till now 70 to 80 per cent backlog of mud and 30 to 40 per cent of retaining wall has been removed.
And overall 60 per cent work has been completed. Work for the remaining 40 per cent work is on and as in the remaining work there is mostly concrete structures it is expected to take more time.
The State Government further informed the NGT that till now over 1000 trucks load of mud and stones have been removed while at some places retaining wall has not been demolished because due to that there were possibilities that whole of the building could fall. The NGT was also told that after its order the electricity department is not providing electricity connections even to those residents who are residing out of the periphery.
After about one hour of hearing the NGT took the U-turn and decide to lift its ban with some conditions for the construction activities in the periphery of the Kaliyasot River.
Meanwhile, the petitioner is not satisfied with the decision and said that no decision was taken for that 33 meter green belt of the river for which the plea was administered.