M3M India and Supertech gets notice for defying construction ban in Gurugram

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has show-caused two prominent real estate developers — M3M India and Supertech — for allegedly defying a construction ban imposed across NCR by EPCA on Monday. HSPCB has also slapped a penalty of Rs 5.50 lakh on each of them for carrying out construction work at their project sites in Gurugram on Tuesday and Wednesday, besides flouting construction norms laid down by the MoEFCC. The EPCA had on Monday banned all construction activities across NCR till Wednesday in the wake of severe air quality. However, during raids in the city, HSPCB teams spotted construction activities at a Supertech project site in Badshapur and an MEM work site on the SPR on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The construction work was immediately stopped and notices were sent to the developers, said an HSPCB official. “If any person, owner or builder is found to be violating any of the conditions stated in this order or for their non-compliance such person, owner, builder shall be liable to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh in relation to construction activity at its site and Rs 50,000 for violation during transportation of construction material, debris on trucks and other vehicles as per Section 15 of the NGT Act. You are hereby issued showcause,” read the notice issued by HSPCB. Further action will be taken against the builders if they fail to respond to the notice within 15 days. “Despite strict instructions and the EPCA’s ban on construction, the two builders were found to be violating the norms. We, therefore, sent them notices and will take strict action against them if they fail to respond and comply,” said an official of HSCPB. An official of M3M said the HSPCB had wrongly sent the show-cause notice to them, and that the construction site on the SPR, where the alleged violations were detected, belonged to Prompt Engineering. A spokesperson for Prompt Engineering admitted that the project site belonged to them. “There were only 15 workers at the site on that day; we can show the attendance sheet. They were present for regular maintenance work, which does not involve any construction activities. Such a limited number of people cannot do any construction work. We are a responsible developer and adhere to all norms of NGT and will follow the same in future, too.”