Thiruvananthapuram: The special committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday inspected the project site of Dragonstone Realty Pvt Ltd at Technopark Phase III to cross-check the allegations raised by green activists before the NGT. The NGT has ordered the committee comprising members from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF &CC), State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) to investigate and report if there is any violation as per the complaint received from the NGO - Environment Protection and Research Council (EPRC).
As per the complaint by EPRC, the Dragonstone Realty Pvt Ltd obtained prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for the project by concealing material facts. The allegation is that the actual built-up area of the project was 3.49 lakh sqm, which would bring the project within the Category A and the party has given 1.33 lakh sqm in the application for Environment Clearance to bring the project in Category B for getting the clearance.
Environmental activist Thomas Lawrence said that the claim that Technopark is the co-developer of the Taurus project is untrue. He said that the claim by the officials that it's a Township Project is baseless. "The government has officially handed over the property to Taurus for a lease period of 90 years and it's possible to extend the lease period for another 90 years. How can they develop a Township in just 9 acres," Mr Lawrence said.
Taurus Chief Operating Officer Anil Kumar said that the allegations are baseless and there is no violations happening. "The documents furnished by the plaintiff before the committee during the visit is of the Winterfell Realty Private Limited. The complaint is regarding the 9.73 acres belonging to the Dragonstone Realty Pvt Ltd. An ordinance was passed in 2018 amending the Wetland Act and the state government has the power to take a suitable decision on wetland conversion. After all it's a government project," said Mr Anil Kumar.
He said that as per Kerala Municipality Building Rules, an IT park should have all components including social infrastructure. "30 percent of the Park should be utilised for social infrastructure including residential space and there is no violation at all," he added.
While sources said that the company would be submitting the Terms of Reference to the SEIAA for getting the environmental clearance for the project. It is learnt that an Environment Impact Assessment Study would be held prior to getting the clearance. "Once the application comes before SEIAA, they would direct the district collector to organise a public hearing. The environmental clearance would be granted with a set of conditions which would include environmental protection," said a source.
