Chandigarh, March 26: The National Green Tribunal has issued a formal notice to the Chandigarh administration following allegations of significant environmental violations at the proposed Bulk Market project in Sector 56. The principal bench directed the UT authorities to submit a detailed response within seven days after taking cognisance of a plea filed by RTI activist Rajinder K Singla.
The legal action centers on the development of approximately 44 acres intended for 191 commercial plots and 48 booth sites. Documents submitted to the tribunal indicate that the project falls under specific categories of the EIA Notification, 2006, which mandates a prior Environmental Clearance before any work begins.
The petitioner stated that the administration proceeded without obtaining the necessary Environmental Clearance, Consent to Establish, or Consent to Operate. He further affirmed that preliminary activities at the site led to the felling of nearly 332 trees without the required statutory permissions.
The plea maintained that the project has bypassed essential procedural steps, including a formal Environmental Impact Assessment study and public consultation. It asserted that such omissions infringe upon the fundamental right to a clean environment under Article 21 of the Constitution and bypass the precautionary principle and the public trust doctrine.
Before approaching the tribunal, the activist moved through administrative channels by filing an RTI application in September 2025. He declared that despite a 30-day statutory deadline, no information regarding tree felling or environmental approvals was provided for nearly 180 days.
The application now seeks a comprehensive assessment of the site and the restoration of any ecological damage. It also requests the tribunal to consider environmental compensation based on the Polluter Pays principle to address the alleged unauthorized land clearing.
