The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has informed Madras High Court that Isha Foundation, spread over 48.74 hectares at Vellingiri hills in Coimbatore district, cannot escape from prosecution for having constructed multiple buildings with a total built-up area of 1,25,800.41 square metres without obtaining environmental clearance.
In a counter-affidavit filed before the first Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice T. Raja and Justice D. Krishna Kumar, the TNPCB said the entire facility would fall under the category of ‘infrastructure development project’ and not ‘educational institution’ in order to claim exemption from environmental clearance.
