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In the wake of a recent National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruling that overturned an environmental clearance for the expansion of mixed land use project by Dragonstone Realty Pvt Ltd at Technopark Phase-3, the Kerala government has vehemently defended its stance. It categorically asserts that no wetland is involved in the expansion.
The Tribunal's cancellation of the clearance served as a significant blow to the state government, triggering the appellant to argue that the state expert appraisal committee (SEAC) and state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA) did not exert independent judgment in the clearance issuance. The crux of the argument lies in the stringent environmental rule prohibiting the use of wetlands for construction ventures.
However, the Kerala government refutes this claim. It emphasized that the land in question is not a wetland but a paddy field, ascertained by classifications such as 'nilam' (paddy field), 'nilam nikathu purayidam' (reclaimed paddy field), or 'purayidam' (dry land) in the notification for the land acquisition for the expansion.
The government further highlighted that these paddy fields have been idle for an extended period and have been exempted from the Kerala Conversion of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008 (Amendment) Act of 2018, following a formal notification.
In bolstering its argument, the government cited a report from the Attipra agricultural officer, stating that the land was an abandoned paddy field. It had been repurposed with coconut tree planting, despite the trees' non-productivity. It also stressed that there has been no farming activity in the acquired land for over two decades. Further evidence from satellite imagery from 2003, 2006, and 2011 was presented, indicating that the project land had no water bodies that would classify it as a lake.
The next steps following the NGT order are still being decided. However, insiders hint at a possible appeal from the government. With the contention about the land's nature addressed, the focus will now shift to the cumulative impact assessment carried out for the project. The Kerala government has repeatedly rejected arguments against the Phase-3 Technopark development, refuting allegations of wetland destruction.
In conclusion, while the state government's appeal against the recent NGT ruling is expected, the major contention surrounding the nature of the land appears to have been resolved. As the focus shifts to the project's cumulative impact assessment, it remains to be seen how this will affect the expansion of Technopark Phase-3.
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