SC stays construction of resorts in Nainital in Uttarakhand

The Supreme Court has stayed construction of ultra-modern housing project which includes resorts and a helipad in Nainital district of Uttarakhand in high-altitude forest area of the Kumaon Himalayas and directed the construction company to maintain status quo till further order. A bench of Justices RF Nariman and Indu Malhotra passed the order on a plea of a resident of the area alleging that construction was going on in the forest area in violation of law and no statutory clearance was taken by the company Devanya Private Ltd from concerned authorities before embarking on the project for constructing 50 resorts/cottages with swimming pools and a helipad in ecologically sensitive zone. The petitioner, Birendra Singh, moves SC after National Green Tribunal (NGT) refused to stay the construction and allow the company to go ahead. Challenging NGT order, senior advocate Gopal Subramanium and lawyer Vipin Nair, told the bench that tribunal erred in dismissing the plea against the company and pleaded that construction work should be immediately stayed to protect the pristine environment in the area.