Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding residential plots with private ghats in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 07/11/2023
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In re: Ganga Heritage titled “Residential Plots in Haridwar, few steps from Ganga River” dated 07/11/2023.
The original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the advertisement titled “Residential Plots with Private Ganga Ghat Starts 25 Lakhs| NH 34 – 5 minutes”. The said advertisement reveals that residential plots are being cut in Haridwar on the bank of river Ganga in violation of the River Ganga Rejuvenation, Protection and Management Authorities Order, 2016 which prohibits construction in the riverbed. Ganga Heritage advertisements dated 27.04.2023 and 30.10.2023 are for the residential plots with private ghats on NH 34 at the distance of 5 minutes from nearby Amatra Resort. It is suspected that these plots are being cut, violating the environmental norms without proper permission.
The NGT directed notice be issued among others to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board, Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, National Mission for Clean Ganga, District Magistrate, Haridwar and Ganga Heritage, the Project Proponent, Haridwar. The District Magistrate, Haridwar has been directed to carry out the spot inspection and file the status report before January 22, 2024.