Ranchi (IANS) The Jharkhand government is yet to react to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) slapping a fine of Rs 130 crore on the state for not taking necessary environmental clearance for constructing the new assembly and high court buildings.
The NGT has said that without obtaining the necessary environmental clearance, the buildings were constructed and on that basis a fine of Rs 66 crore has been slapped on the high court building while another Rs 47 crore penalty has been imposed on the new Vidhan Sabha building.
The new assembly building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year when the Raghubar Das-led BJP government was in power in the state. The state assembly came under lens after the false ceiling of the library room collapsed.
After inauguration, the Raghubar Das government had called a one-day special assembly session. The budget session of this year also took place in new building, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 450 crore.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said, “The issue has come to our notice through the media. We will react only after going through the judgement.”
Independent legislator Saryu Rai, who had defeated Raghubar Das in the Assembly polls, said, “The Raghubar Das government was in a hurry to inaugurate the new building. The previous government should be blamed for the NGT fine.”
The new high court building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crore.