Noida: Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) defended its acquisition of 14 ponds for Noida International Airport and challenged the scope of judicial review once environmental clearance was already granted, informing National Green Tribunal that eight new ponds have been excavated to replace them.The matter is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday. In a separate affidavit, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) also provided a status update for 281 ponds under its jurisdiction.YEIDA, in its April 10 affidavit, replied to concerns raised by the National Green Tribunal in its Jan 19 order, stating that it was granted environmental clearance (EC) on March 9, 2020, under the EIA Notification, 2006. The EC grant expressly takes into account the impact on existing ponds and incorporates mitigation measures, including the creation of alternative water bodies. Therefore, the decision is a fully informed and reasoned one, taken in accordance with the statutory framework, the affidavit said.“The environmental impacts of the project, including the impact on certain ponds, have been duly assessed and mitigated through the creation of larger alternative water bodies. Thus, the present case represents a classic instance of sustainable development in action, where environmental considerations have not been disregarded but have been integrated into the project design and implementation,” it said.While hearing an application filed by environmentalist Abhisht Kusum Gupta, the tribunal in its Jan 19 order had directed YEIDA and the UP govt to place on record a copy of the state govt order dated June 3, 2016, allowing utilisation of ponds and creation of alternate water bodies, using which ponds/land was transferred for the Noida airport project.
