The Supreme Court granting stay on the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order imposing a penalty of Rs 117.35 crore on Mantri Techzone Pvt Ltd and Rs 22.5 crore on Coremind Software and Services Pvt Ltd for not following the green norms is not a setback, said a group of civic activists in the City.
The stay was granted as Mantri and Coremind contended that they were not given enough opportunity to be heard before the NGT.
However, one of the group members, Vijayan Menon says that there were nine hearings and enough opportunity was given to them. In fact, the developers’ statements and submissions have also been mentioned in the NGT order, he added.
He made it clear that they were not fighting against Mantri or Coremind, but against the system of governance which had failed to look into the sensitivity of this issue and granted permission violating the green norms. “The citizens at large are against the project as it wil cause irreversible damage to the environment. The government should consciously decide and if they do so by obliging to the citizen's demand, it would be a fantastic decision,” he added.
He said that with the ongoing recovery of lake bed and eviction drive being carried out, the group will approach the political representatives too on the project. Another activist Nitin Seshadri said the stay on the penalty amount applies till the date of hearing the review petition by the NGT. The group will also approach the Ministry of Environment and Forests, he added.
A representative of Forward Foundation, one of the civic activist groups, said the apex court order was definitely a disappointment.
He said that court proceeding is a long drawn haul and the group will definitely approach the government to take a decision in the larger interest of the citizens.