The National Green Tribunal has directed the Jharkhand state authorities to stop all the construction activities in the state without acquiring prior environmental clearance (EC). The move came after the green tribunal noted that the status report of Jharkhand reveals that 35 major structures constructed have been admittedly set up without prior EC.
The green tribunal has asked the state’s Urban Development Department to make sure that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of all the structures set up in the municipal zone should be done expeditiously as per the procedure laid down in the EIA Notification 2006.
A bench headed by Justice S. P. Wangdi said that similar action shall be taken for the structures falling within notified Nagarpalika areas and Gram Panchayats as well. Environmental Compensation shall be assessed in respect of all the structures which have been raised without EC and shall be recovered from the appropriate authorities/persons/builders/project proponent (as the case maybe) within a period of three months from hence,” the bench said.