Judgment of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Amardeep Vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others dated 19/03/2025.

The letter petition was received by the NGT from Amardeep, President, Ansal Sushant City Sector-7A, Residential Welfare Society complaining about non-disposal of solid waste in the above society by the developer and, thereby, causing damage to the environment.

Though EC was granted on January 16, 2008 the project was found incomplete by the Joint Committee, when it was inspected the site on March 15, 2024 - after more than 15 years of the grant of EC. In view of the provisions contained in Clause 9 of Environment Impact Assessment Notification dated September 14, 2006, the period of EC was only 5 years. It is not the case of the developer that a new EC or renewal of EC has been granted.

"The execution / construction of the project even after expiry of EC was in violation of the provisions of EIA 2006 read with EP Act, 1986. This is a serious violation on the part of the project proponent," the court said.

Ansal Landmark Township has violated environmental laws and is liable to face all the consequences and penal and other action which have to be taken against it in accordance with law, the tribunal said. This would also include payment of environmental compensation by application of the principle of "polluter pays".

The EC dated January 16, 2008 showed the cost of the project as Rs 218 crores. "5% of the above project cost thus, comes to Rs.10.9 Crores," the NGT said.

Thus, Ansal Landmark Township has been directed to pay environmental compensation of Rs 10.9 crores and deposit the same with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) within two months. Ansal Landmark Township was also directed to complete/obtain statutory consents/permissions/clearances from the competent authorities within two months failing which execution of the project/construction activities in the project in question should not be carried out by it.

Ansal was also directed to ensure compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 till the project in question is completed and handed over to MCM. Further, compliance of the conditions of EC should be ensured by constructing STP of requisite capacity in the project and connecting all drains and sewer lines in the project with STP for treatment of sewerage within three months.

Compliance of the directions should be ensured by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the District Magistrate, Meerut and compliance report filed by July 15, 2025.