Pune: NGT Imposes ₹2.55 Crore Penalty On Builder For Violating Environmental Rules In Thergaon
Pune: NGT Imposes ₹2.55 Crore Penalty On Builder For Violating Environmental Rules In Thergaon
Pune, September 6, 2025 — The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a private developer to pay ₹2.55 crore as environmental damage compensation for violating Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) rules during a large residential project in Thergaon, Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The order, issued by the NGT’s Western Bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Vijay Kulkarni, was uploaded on September 3. The tribunal directed the penalty amount to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The case originated from a 2016 petition filed by residents Tanaji Gambhire and Tushar Kakade, who alleged that the builder had illegally constructed eight residential towers, two commercial blocks, three clubhouses, and parking structures, including on 10% of the designated open space, on land in Mulshi taluka.
The tribunal noted that the project spanned over 50,041.19 square metres, with construction on Plot C alone exceeding 20,000 square metres. As per the EIA Notification, 2006, this required mandatory clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), which the developer failed to obtain.
Citing the “Polluter Pays” principle, the NGT held the builder accountable, stating such violations disrupt ecological balance and create dangerous precedents for urban development in sensitive areas.
This is the second such ruling in a week. Earlier, on August 29, the tribunal directed another builder on Katraj-Kondhwa Road to pay ₹1.7 crore for similar violations.
