The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday has stood by its decision taken last year imposing a fine on Akshardham temple management for carrying out expansion without prior environmental clearance and quashing two office memoranda of the Environment Ministry. The temple management has sought review of NGT judgement, against the imposition of penalty.
The green panel headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “There is no ground to review our judgment dated July 10, 2015. However, we clarify that the Principal Committee constituted under our judgment, should deal with the case stated to be or allegedly falling within the flood plain... Of the River Yamuna expeditiously and submit the report.”
The Akshardham Temple management contended that when the construction of the temple was completed in 2005, the EIA notification of 2006 was not in force and thus there was no requirement for EC.
The Tribunal, however, allowed the petitioner to approach the Principal Committee headed by Shashi Shekhar (Secretary in Ministry of Water Resources) for redressing its grievances, and directed the panel to expedite hearing in the matter.
The green panel had on July 7 last year, quashed two office memoranda of the Environment Ministry dealing with the issue of clearances for major and minor projects, saying they suffered from infirmity of “lack of inherent jurisdiction and authority”.
later on July 10, it had also slapped a fine of five per cent of the total cost incurred in the expansion of temple complex, located on Yamuna river bank along National Highway 24.
The bench had passed the order on a petition filed by environment activist Manoj Mishra alleging that the temple management had allegedly used one of these two memoranda to get a “post facto” clearance for expanding the complex on a proposed built-up area of 25,497 square metres.