Noida: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday granted two months to the Ghaziabad DM and UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to file a detailed action taken report against hospitality establishments, including restaurants, hotels and malls that are operating in Ghaziabad without mandatory clearances and in violation of air and water pollution norms.The bench asked the respondents to specify the total number of such units which have obtained consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO), applications pending with UPPCB, rejected applications, closure orders issued, instances where electricity connections were disconnected following closure directions, and cases where complaints were filed against violators.The principal bench, comprising judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Afroz Ahmad, further directed the authorities to give details of the total number of units required to obtain CTE and CTO under applicable statutory provisions and orders passed by the Supreme Court (SC) or the tribunal, after coordinating with concerned departments.The matter has been listed for further proceedings on April 2. The tribunal is hearing Original Application (OA-294/2023), filed by Prasoon Pant, alleging that restaurants, hotels and malls in Ghaziabad were operating without requisite permissions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.In its preliminary report submitted in March 2024, UPPCB stated that of the 21 units initially impleaded, five were found non-compliant for operating without consent. Of another 82 units examined, 24 had obtained consent, while the remaining 58 were parties to OA No 438/2018 (Arti vs CGWA & Ors) and had secured a stay on the tribunal’s orders from the SC.During an earlier hearing, the tribunal noted that five of the 58 stayed units had since obtained consent and sought a reply about the remaining establishments, while directing that no coercive action be taken against them during the pendency of proceedings before the SC.UPPCB further informed the tribunal that 67 additional units were identified, of which show-cause notices for disconnection of electricity and water supply and imposition of environmental compensation were issued to 30 units, while notices to obtain consent were issued to the remaining 37 units. The tribunal subsequently ordered these units to be impleaded as respondents.The NGT has now directed the DM and UPPCB to submit a consolidated report detailing compliant units, violators and enforcement action taken across district.
