Green Tribunal puts brakes on HC terminal work for Kochi Water Metro

Chennai: The Chennai Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has put the brakes on the construction of the High Court terminal for the Kochi Water Metro by ordering that a joint panel of experts would inquire into the allegations whether the work on the project is being undertaken by the Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) by violating various environmental and CRZ norms.

The tribunal sought for the submission of a fact-finding report by a panel of experts drawn from agencies like the Chennai zonal office of the Union Environment Ministry, the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), and the Marine Division of the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) based in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Bench ordered that any further construction at the disputed site would be subject to the final disposal of the case.

The Bench comprising judicial member Justice K Ramakrishnan and expert member K Satyagopal issued the orders while hearing the petition filed by Kochi native Prathapa Singhan alleging violation of environmental and CRZ norms in the construction of the water terminal at the High Court point.

The Green Tribunal asked the KCZMA to act as the coordinating agency for conducting the on-the-spot inspection at the disputed terminal. The tribunal also wanted the panel to give an interim report explaining whether there is a violation of environmental law and if so, what action should be taken. The exact nature of the violation of norms should be spelt out in the report.

The petitioner's main allegation is that the nature of the construction was not spelt out clearly by the KMRL even though the environment and CRZ clearance was obtained for the construction of the terminal.

Earlier, the NGT sent notices to various parties, including the Central Government, in the case. The tribunal will take up the case again in April.

TERMS OF REFERENCE OF FACT-FINDING TEAM

1. Is the ongoing construction violative of the environment and CRZ norms?

2. To check whether the KMRL suppressed real facts from the authorities for getting the required environmental clearance.

3. Is the present construction breaching the CRZ norms?

4. What steps are to be taken to offset the damage caused to the environment due to the construction?

 

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