Pune: The Prayeja City housing project off Sinhagad road has been imposed a fine of Rs 5 crore by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on charges of violating environmental laws while constructing the buildings.

The NGT has ordered that the builder should deposit this fine amount with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) within two months and that the amount should be used for activities of conservation of environment. The bench of Justice Adarshkumar Goyal of NGT has issued an interim order in this regard and the next hearing in this matter is scheduled on March 23, 2021.

Tanaji Balasaheb Gambhire had lodged a complaint with the NGT in this regard. In his complaint Gambhire had stated that while constructing the buildings of this housing project, the necessary permissions for groundwater pumping were not taken. Also, the trees felled during the construction activity were not compensated with new plantations and that there was no waste water treatment plant built inside the project.

The NGT while finalizing the fine amount has taken into consideration the expenses for activities carried out while violating the environment laws. The fine amount has been derived from this calculation and is 2.5 times the expenses incurred by the builder for those activities. The fine amount will be put to use by the MPCB for any activity related to environment conservation.

The NGT order states that while constructing phase 1 and 2 of the project, the builder has failed to obtain the environmental clearances, NOCs and has also violated the water and air pollution norms. The NGT had earlier constituted a committee comprising officials of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and the Central Pollution Control Board and MPCB. The fine amount was finalised on recommendation of this committee.