Affidavit of the Member Secretary, West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority in pursuant to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, Eastern Bench, dated March 22, 2022.

The matter related to M/s Sonar Bangla, Sundarban undertaking constructions in the ecologically rich area of Sunderbans at village Dulki, Gosaba, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

The project proponent had submitted an application before the Chairman, West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority, July 14, 2021 for CRZ clearance of the said project.

On scrutinizing the CRZ map and documents submitted by the project proponent to the West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority (WBSCZMA), it was observed that the area of interest falls within the following CRZ categories - Mangrove buffer (CRZ-1A); No Development Zone and outside CRZ.

A letter was issued by the Member Secretary, WBCZMA to the project proponent dated September 15, 2021 stating that about 77.43% of the project area lies mainly within CRZ IA (11.84%) and No Development Zone (65.59%).

As per the CRZ Notification, 2011, establishment of hotels is not a permissible activity in these CRZ categories. Hence, WBCZMA stated that setting up a hotel in the said CRZ zone cannot be allowed and has to be closed.

At the 15th meeting of the WBSCZMA, December 1, 2021 it was noted that some structures were already constructed by the project proponent without any approval/consent from WBSCZMA. Nearly 77% of the area falls in the mangrove buffer (CRZ 1A) and No Development Zone (NDZ) and there was no question of granting approval to this project in its current form, the WBSCZMA stated.

The Institute Of Environmental Studies And Wetland Management (IESWM) in its CRZ report has informed that the project proponent has already built some structures such as cottages, swimming pool without obtaining due clearance from the authorities and in complete violation of CRZ Notification, 2011.

Note: The West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority report to the NGT on CRZ clearance of hotel Sonar Bangla, Sundarban, dated April 24, 2022 was uploaded to the NGT site, June 28, 2022