Impose fine on Uttarakhand for violating laws on Gairsain assembly building: NGT to SEAC

The National Green Tribunal has directed imposition of environmental compensation on Uttarakhand government for initiating construction of a new legislative assembly building at Gairsain in Chamoli district without mandatory clearances.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore passed the order after noting that construction was commenced without environmental clearance on the grounds that it is less than 20,000 sq metres.

However, the said construction has now exceeded 20,000 sq. metres and is totalling to about 25,000 sq metres, it noted.

The green panel asked the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) to examine the proposal as a case of violation of environmental law in respect of construction of building after taking into consideration all the facts and circumstances, particularly the size and nature of the building, its construction and the surrounding conditions at the place where the structure has come up.

"Accordingly, SEAC would impose appropriate conditions, ..