NGT quashes eco-clearance for Godrej residential project near Bengaluru lake

The National Green Tribunal has quashed the environmental clearance (EC) granted to a high-rise residential project being built by Godrej in Bengaluru for raising construction in the buffer zone of a lake.

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice S P Wangdi said no environmental clearance could have been granted which permitted construction in the buffer zone of Kaikondrahalli lake and drains merely by imposing a condition that no such construction will be raised.

"Stand of the project proponent that the project is permissible cannot be accepted. It is clear that the project stipulates construction in the buffer zone, in violation of zoning plan and judgment of this tribunal as affirmed by the Supreme Court. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed and the EC is quashed," the bench said.

The tribunal directed the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) - Karnataka, state pollution control board, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and Bengaluru ...