Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) repeatedly seeking for more time from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to respond to environmental concerns raised about the proposed Balaji temple project at Ulwe has got them in trouble.
The case pertains to the environmental concerns expressed by environmental watchdog NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar on the plea that the Tirupati Venkateswara Swami temple project has been allotted a 40,000 sq mtr plot in an ecologically sensitive zone which was once dominated by intertidal wetland, mudflats and mangroves.
The Bench while hearing the matter on January 17, pulled up TTD counsel for failing to respond to the concerns and seeking for more time. “The tribunal imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 on the temple body as the bench observed that even during the previous date the TTD counsel had sought for two weeks’ time to file the rejoinder to the matter,” said Nat Connect Foundation Director B N Kumar
TTD is governed by the Andhra Pradesh government’s Endowments Ministry. The temple Board is also appointed by the State.
The plot in question was alleged to be a temporary casting yard built for the Atal Setu bridge.
NGT’s western zonal bench took up the case on Friday, wherein a junior advocate representing TTD counsel Satya Sabharwal reportedly sought some more time to file the rejoinder.
The Bench comprising – Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh as judicial member and Dr. Vijay Kulkarni as expert member – was apprised by advocate Ronita Bhattacharya that TTD reply was still not submitted despite the order passed four and half months ago.
“TTD’s junior counsel sought to excuse the delay on the ground that there has been a change in the government in Andhra Pradesh since the NGT case was filed. But the Bench did not accept the plea and posted the case for the next hearing for March 20,” said Kumar.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) was also asked by the tribunal to file its affidavit in the matter.
At the NGT, Natconnect presented google earth maps of the coastline showing intertidal wetland, mudflats and sparse mangroves before the casting yard came up in 2019.
MCZMA said in its affidavit that the CRZ nod was granted based on the coastal zone management plan (CZMP)-2019 as approved by the MOEFCC.
NatConnect, however, said the CZMP had not considered the ground situation prior to 2019 when the temple and the casting yard area used to be an active fishing zone.
