The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently imposed an environmental compensation of INR 113.25 crore (approximately USD 15.2 million) on the developer of Wave City, a residential project located along National Highway 9 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. The developer has been given three months to deposit the fine with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). A three-member bench of NGT, led by Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, passed the order after a report was submitted by a joint team of UPPCB, Central Ground Water Board, and the forest department officials.

The case dates back to August 2019 when a resident of Ghaziabad, Mahakar Singh, approached the NGT alleging that the Wave Group had flouted environmental norms and violated solid waste management (SWM) laws. The NGT then directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Central Ground Water Board, the forest conservator of Ghaziabad, and the UPPCB to furnish a report to the tribunal. After conflicting reports were submitted by these agencies, the NGT directed a joint committee of the CPCB, the state-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, the UPPCB, the Central Ground Water Board, and the district magistrate of Ghaziabad to file a report.

In March 2021, the joint committee tabled a report in which it stated that the damage was found within the project site and a fine was imposed on the then project manager of the developer. The committee reported that the developer was in violation of conditions related to groundwater extraction, solid waste management, and air pollution. For example, eight sewage treatment plants installed for the treatment of sewage were not found in operation, while 19 diesel generator sets had stack height below norms laid down by the UPPCB. The committee also found that there was no arrangement for the disposal of solid waste generated from the township.

The NGT ordered appropriate action against the developer, including the imposition of environmental compensation, on the basis of the joint committee's report. The NGT also stated that the compensation must be utilized for the rejuvenation and restoration of the environment in the area as per the recommendations of the joint committee. The developer later approached the Supreme Court against the NGT's order, but the petition was dismissed, and the developer was told that it could file an application for interim relief with the NGT.

A Wave Group spokesperson said that the judgment was a 180-page document, and their legal team was reviewing it. The imposition of environmental compensation by the NGT serves as a warning to developers to ensure that they comply with environmental norms and regulations while executing their projects.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently imposed an environmental compensation of INR 113.25 crore (approximately USD 15.2 million) on the developer of Wave City, a residential project located along National Highway 9 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. The developer has been given three months to deposit the fine with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). A three-member bench of NGT, led by Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, passed the order after a report was submitted by a joint team of UPPCB, Central Ground Water Board, and the forest department officials.

The case dates back to August 2019 when a resident of Ghaziabad, Mahakar Singh, approached the NGT alleging that the Wave Group had flouted environmental norms and violated solid waste management (SWM) laws. The NGT then directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Central Ground Water Board, the forest conservator of Ghaziabad, and the UPPCB to furnish a report to the tribunal. After conflicting reports were submitted by these agencies, the NGT directed a joint committee of the CPCB, the state-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, the UPPCB, the Central Ground Water Board, and the district magistrate of Ghaziabad to file a report.

In March 2021, the joint committee tabled a report in which it stated that the damage was found within the project site and a fine was imposed on the then project manager of the developer. The committee reported that the developer was in violation of conditions related to groundwater extraction, solid waste management, and air pollution. For example, eight sewage treatment plants installed for the treatment of sewage were not found in operation, while 19 diesel generator sets had stack height below norms laid down by the UPPCB. The committee also found that there was no arrangement for the disposal of solid waste generated from the township.

The NGT ordered appropriate action against the developer, including the imposition of environmental compensation, on the basis of the joint committee's report. The NGT also stated that the compensation must be utilized for the rejuvenation and restoration of the environment in the area as per the recommendations of the joint committee. The developer later approached the Supreme Court against the NGT's order, but the petition was dismissed, and the developer was told that it could file an application for interim relief with the NGT.

A Wave Group spokesperson said that the judgment was a 180-page document, and their legal team was reviewing it. The imposition of environmental compensation by the NGT serves as a warning to developers to ensure that they comply with environmental norms and regulations while executing their projects.