NGT notice to Centre, UP on construction of Haj House in G’bad

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) A Haj house to facilitate pilgrimsin Ghaziabad was being built in violation of laws as it fellon the floodplains of river Hindon, a plea before the greenpanel has said. Taking note of the plea, a National Green Tribunal benchheaded by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar today issuednotices to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), UttarPradesh government, its Irrigation Department, state pollutioncontrol board, UP Haj House Committee and others on a pleaseeking demolition of the Aala Hazrat Haj House. The green panel said any construction would be subject tothe final outcome of the proceedings on the plea. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Ghaziabadresidents and an NGO Society for protection of Environment andBiodiversity claiming that land where the Haj house was beingconstructed was recorded as ‘Hindon River’ in the revenuerecords of Village Arthala in District Ghaziabad. According to the plea, filed through advocates RitwickDutta and Rahul Choudhary, the construction of Haj house wasin complete violation of the directions of the Chief Secretaryof Uttar Pradesh to all authorities including police to ensurethat no construction of any kind is allowed on the floodplain. It has also referred to the 2013 NGT order which hadtaken note of the several illegal construction on thefloodplains and passed a restraining order against any illegalconstruction of temporary or permanent nature on floodplainsof Yamuna and Hindon. Located at the Arthala village near Hindon river, theGhaziabad Haj House is an under-construction seven-storeybuilding. Offering a capacity of 2,500 pilgrims at a time like theLucknow Haj house, Ghaziabad Haj house will have arrangementsfor foreign exchange, immigration, medical aid and otheramenities for the pilgrims. A separate administrative block isalso being constructed. PTI PKSARC