Google India is under the green scanner for allegedly destroying a green belt in front of its office in Sector 15 (Part-II) and building a road that provides direct access to NH-8 in a “surreptitious” manner.
The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to Google, according to a media report. The development authority also asked the internet company to remove all structures built by it and restore the stretch within 12 hours.
When contacted by Newsmobile the Google spokesperson said “We are only a tenant here, Unitech Builders has carried out the work and they will be filing their response.”
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The building complex which houses the Google India office is developed by Unitech, a private builder that is facing litigation and is under financial stress.
The news report said that the letter, which was sent by the advisor to GMDA’s environment division and addressed to Google India’s vice president and managing director, reads, “Whereas it has come to the notice that persons under you or working on your behalf have destroyed the green belt in front of your office and built a road for access in a surreptitious manner without the necessary permissions. The entire work has been done in a covert manner… by such actions you have violated the provisions under the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Area Rules, the Punjab Land Preservation Act as well as the applicable portions of the Indian Penal Code.”
The report also said that the notice was served to Google (and not to Unitech) because according to the municipal records, Google India is paying the property tax. “We will wait for the company’s response, following which we will restore the green belt to its original condition. Destruction of a green belt is completely illegal, and no permission whatsoever has been sought to carry out the road work. We are the custodians of all green belts across the city,” the report cited GMDA’s statement.
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