The firm represented the Greater Faridabad Residents Association (GREFA) in a matter related to dysfunctional sewage treatment plants (STPs) and gathered a landmark judgement last month at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in favour of the residents’ association. Thirteen builders of the Greater Faridabad area have been penalized by the NGT for not following the prescribed sewage disposal norms. The builders under the lens for the captioned matter are Omaxe Heights Faridabad and Summer Palms in Sector 86, SRS Residency and BPTP Villas in Sector 88, ERA Redwood Residency in Sector 78, SRS Royal Hills in Sector 87, Puri VIP Floors in Sector 81, BPTP L Block and BPTP Elite Floors in Sector 84 and Era Divine Court in Sector 76.

They were directed to deposit Rs 25 lakh as security until they have setup the requisite STPs within a 4-week stipulated time period. The tribunal imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh each on 12 builders for violation of norms for running below capacity or partially operational STPs. It also directed the management of a residential society in Sector 78 to deposit Rs 25 lakh within a week as it did not even have an STP. The judgment also stated that after 4 weeks of the provided timeframe, a joint inspection will be carried out by a team comprising of CPCB, HUDA, TCP. The team will then submit a compliance report to the tribunal for further instructions in the matter. Maneesha Dhir, Managing Partner and KPS Kohli, Associate Partner, Dhir & Dhir Associates jointly represented GREFA in the matter.