Gurgaon: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought responses from Haryana authorities and other stakeholders over alleged environmental violations at the 327-acre Mayfield Gardens township in the city, including construction without mandatory environmental clearance, illegal groundwater extraction and faulty sewage infrastructure.In an order passed on Sept 8, NGT’s principal bench — comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad — said the issues raised by Orchid Island Residents Welfare Association (RWA) involved “substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental norms.” The bench issued notices to the respondents and directed officials to ensure no illegal construction takes place at the site until the next hearing, scheduled for Nov 16. It also asked RWA to serve State of Haryana and other parties, and to file proof of service at least a week before that date.Mayfield Gardens, spread across sectors 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54, is being developed by a consortium of builders. RWA’s petition raises five specific allegations: that construction at site PS-08 is continuing despite an earlier tribunal order; that State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) Haryana failed to assess environmental damage as previously directed by NGT; that groundwater is being extracted illegally during construction; that the colony’s sewage network is poorly designed and laid; and that environmental clearance for site HS-02 was granted in parts, without assessing the combined impact of the development.The clearance dispute at Mayfield Gardens first came before the tribunal in Oct 2024, when SEIAA Haryana told NGT that clearance was required and produced an order directing a construction halt under the Environment (Protection) Act. That case was disposed of, with the applicant allowed to challenge SEIAA’s decision separately.The matter also reached Union environment ministry last year. According to a ministry document, a complaint filed through PMO’s public grievance portal was received on June 2, 2025, submitted by advocate Yatish Kumar Goel on behalf of RWA. It alleged that SEIAA Haryana officials granted the HS-02 clearance despite unresolved questions over ownership and the project developer, without a comprehensive study covering groundwater, air quality and biodiversity, and without properly considering objections raised during public consultation. The complaint sought an investigation against SEIAA officials and cancellation of the HS-02 clearance.These allegations remain part of RWA’s complaint and have not been established by the tribunal. The Sept 8 order records the issues raised, finds they warrant examination, and seeks responses from the authorities. The matter will next be heard on Nov 16.
