NGT rejects state’s plea, orders demolition of Gadkhali structure

KOLKATA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, on Wednesday, rejected a plea by the district magistrate of South 24-Parganas to regularize a four-storied building at Gadkhali in the Sundarbans that violates Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) regulations and ordered its immediate demolition. The bench comprising Justice Pratap Ray and Prof P C Mishra had ordered demolition of the structure during earlier hearings but the state administration had dragged its feet.Finally, the NGT had directed the DM, who is also the executive officer of the South 24-Parganas zilla parishad to file a report on why the structure should be allowed to remain.
The existence of the building first came to light after environment activist Subhas Datta, who has been appointed amicus curiae by the NGT in its suo motu proceedings against degradation in the Sundarbans, toured the area and submitted a report. The DM’s report also stated that the building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore and will generate employment to local youths. It was admitted in the report that the structure violates CRZ norms. The bench expressed its displeasure at this.
“Then you can start allowing poor people to settle on the national highways. If the government doesn’t follow the rule of law, citizens will never do so. Ultimately, rowdies will take over Kolkata and the districts. The government is not above the law. The prayer is rejected and the earlier order stands. The structure should be demolished forthwith,” the bench observed.
When the additional advocate general submitted that a plea will be made to the CRZ Management to regularize the structure, the bench wanted to know from where he had gathered the information. On being told that the additional district magistrate of South 24-Parganas had shared the information with him, the bench rejected it. The tribunal also hauled up the West Bengal Pollution Control Board during the day and wanted to know on what basis it had granted Consent to Operate certificate to the Sajnekhali tourist lodge on May 15, 2015, despite unauthorized reconstruction. Datta was also granted permission to file a fresh affidavit on a tourist hub being created at Jharkhali by destroying mangroves.