Green court notice to VCA in Jamtha case

Nagpur: National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone bench, Pune, has issued notices to Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) and 10 other respondents in Jamtha cricket stadium case. The respondents have been given time upto May 26 for submitting replies.
Farmers’ organization Jai Jawan Jai Kisan through Arun Wankar and RTI activists TH Naidu and Ankita Shah had filed petition with the NGT alleging VCA did not obtain environment clearance from the state environment department, consent to establish and then operate from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and building plan sanction from the collector/Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) before construction of Jamtha cricket stadium and its utilization.The petitioners had prayed for closure notice to the stadium followed by demolition and action against 10 respondents for not initiating any action on VCA.
Ten respondents include collector, MPCB, NMC, NIT, divisional commissioner, commissioner of police, tehsildar (rural), assistant director of town planning, environment department and MoEFCC.
Advocate Asim Sarode represented the petitioners. In the order passed on April 26 by Justice Jawad Rahim and expert member Ajay Deshpande, the tribunal stated, “Learned counsel for the applicant brings to our notice that he has filed amended petition. We take the amended petition on record. We order notice be issued to all respondents. Steps to be taken within one week. Notices are returnable by May 26.” Petitioners received the order on Saturday.
Founder of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Prashant Pawar told TOI more violations had come to fore and would be submitted with NGT. “Already we had mentioned in the petition about sound violation by the VCA during World T-20 Matches. We received documents under RTI Act a couple of days ago and will submit them to NGT,” he said.
Naidu said collector office did not approve exemption from sound norms for eight World T-20 matches played at Jamtha stadium. “VCA had submitted application dated February 25 seeking permission to operate sound systems after 10pm and upto midnight on March 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25 and 27. Collector Sachin Kurve had sent a letter dated March 1 to principal secretary, environment department, recommending permission to VCA. Collector mentioned he had powers to give permission for only two days in a year,” he said.
Naidu added collector did not receive any permission from environment department. “Collector’s office in reply stated no such permission was given during March 1 and 31. Match played between India and New Zealand on March 15 went on beyond 10pm. Sound systems were in operation. Collector office and police department should investigate into all eight matches and initiate action. We also prayed for NGT action for violation,” he said.