Gangtok: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued an interim stay on the alleged ‘illegal’ construction of a multi-level car parking and shopping hub at the Old West Point school area in Sikkim’s capital Gangtok.
The NGT Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata has listed the next hearing on March 2. Until then, no construction can be carried out at the site.
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The tribunal was responding to a petition filed by Dr Bina Basnet, who contended that the multi-level complex under construction is to the extent of 14 storeys, which is ‘wholly impermissible’. The government notification dated April 5, 2021, tracing its origin to October 15, 2001, from the Mines and Geology Department permits ‘five and a half storeys’ construction depending on the site stability zonation parameters.
The petitioner contended that Sikkim comes under Seismic Zone 4, where earthquakes are commonly on the magnitude of 4.5 to 5.5 on the Richter scale. “A parking complex of 14 storeys is a grave threat to the fragile ecology of the area and also to the life and limb of the people residing in the area,” submitted the petitioner.
The NGT bench issued notices to the respondents, including the Central and Sikkim Government, who must file counter-affidavits within four weeks.
A Siliguri-based company is developing the complex on a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the state government.
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