Rejoinder by Anupkrishnan V to the NGT regarding violation of EC conditions in the construction of Prestige Bella Vista, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 23/10/2021
Rejoinder in Original Application No. 21 of 2021 (SZ) in the matter of Dr. Anupkrishnan V Vs Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 23/10/2021.
Rejoinder filed by Dr. Anupkrishnan V to common counter affidavit of respondent 4 and 5 ( M/s Prestige Estates Projects Ltd. and M/s Prestige Estates Projects Ltd, Chennai). The matter related to the alleged violation of environmental clearance (EC) in the construction of Prestige Bella Vista.
EC stipulated construction of 20 blocks of residential buildings and one block of club house with a total built up area of 4,78,003 sq.m and provision of 3769 car park spaces. But Respondents obtained planning permission for 33 blocks of buildings and one block of club house with a built up area of 4,43,738.16 sq.m and a provision of 2215 car park spaces which is a blatant violation of EC stipulations.
The respondents obtained CTO for 25 blocks "fraudulently" in 2018. That is why it was not renewed in 2020. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) refused to renew it and asked respondents to obtain CTO for entire projects. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) actually sent an office memorandum, November 2, 2018 asking SPCB to not issue Consent to Operate (CTO) to projects where ground water is proposed as water source and till the project proponent obtains permission to draw ground water for project activities, the report to the NGT said.