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In a significant ruling, Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Zone, Chennai, overturned the Environmental Clearance (EC) for the planned expansion of the mixed land use project at Technopark phase III campus by Dragonstone Realty Private Limited. The ruling came in response to an appeal by environmental advocate, Thomas Lawrence, who objected to the proposed development.
The Tribunal cancelled the EC issued by the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA), citing a violation of a Supreme Court verdict from 2020. It noted the project's splitting into main and expansion phases as a key issue. This expansion project, worth a total of Rs 800 crore, aimed to construct mixed land use buildings across 3.937 hectares, with a built-up area of 271,164.4 square meters.
Additionally, the NGT imposed a hefty Rs 15 crore penalty on Dragonstone Realty for its intentional project division. The Tribunal ordered the amount to be paid within three months to the integrated regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The fine will fund enhancements to the district's wetlands.
Justice Sathyanarayana stressed that no further work should continue under the project's third phase without acquiring the requisite EC. The NGT also advised the MoEF&CC to take proper action against authorities who incorrectly granted the EC for this phase.
Moreover, the Tribunal pointed to the SEIAA in Kerala, arguing that they should have evaluated the project more holistically rather than treating the phase as an independent expansion without full consideration. Their lapse in judgement was also deemed culpable in the ruling.
NGT has mandated that the state environment impact assessment authority revisit the proposal and ensure Dragonstone Realty conducts a comprehensive impact study for the whole phase III. This study should identify potential mitigation measures to remediate any environmental impacts from the construction of the main project.
The state government had previously dismissed Thomas Lawrence's objections against the land conversion for Technopark phase III's development and the alleged destruction of local wetlands.
In conclusion, this pivotal judgement underscores the necessity of comprehensive environmental assessments before the commencement of large-scale projects. It underscores the NGT's commitment to preserving ecological balance while underscoring the importance of stringent adherence to environmental regulations by all stakeholders.
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