AMN / NEW DELHI
Modifying its earlier order, the National Green Tribunal, NGT has said that construction activities will be prohibited within 50 metres from the edge of river Ganga in hilly areas as it will now be treated as No-Development Zone.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that keeping in view the topography of mountainous regions, there is a necessity of revisiting its direction.
No-development zones are areas where no construction including commercial or residential buildings can come up.
In a detailed judgment, the tribunal had said in July that till the demarcation of floodplains and identification of permissible and non-permissible activities by the state government of this judgment, 100 meters from the edge of the river will be treated as no development/construction zone between Haridwar to Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the bench said the area falling between 50-100 metres will be considered as “regulatory” zone and there will be ban on construction activity in this area till the state comes with a specific policy.
With regard to industries located in Haridwar, the NGT said that all units will be connected to common effluent treatment plants and in case of failure they would be shut down.