The state government is yet to challenge the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order banning construction of buildings that cover more than 20,000 square metres.

The ban has stalled several projects worth crores in Patna. Even semi-urban and rural areas on the fringes of the city such as Bihta, where several such projects are underway, are facing the heat.

The tribunal on September 16 directed the state to stop all constructions in Patna on built-up area of more than 20,000 square metres till the master plan for the city is approved.

It had also ordered re-constitution of the Patna metropolitan committee as the tribunal held that most members selected for the recently approved Patna metropolitan planning committee (PMPC) lack technical expertise for the work. The projects that have been hit by the tribunal order are Bihar Museum, International Convention Centre, Bihar Police Bhavan and Vidhan Sabha annexe building. Though the government had earlier said it was seeking legal opinion on the tribunal's directive, no concrete decision has arrived yet.

Urban development and housing department principal secretary Chaitanya Prasad on Thursday said, "So far we have not decided when and how the government will move against the NGT order. No meeting on it has been called so far. We are seeking advice of more experts on the matter."

Prasad, however, defended the state government's move of constituting the PMPC, terming it to be legitimate.

"The committee was formed adhering to all the prescribed rules and the Constitution of India as two-third of its members are elected representatives," the principal secretary said. He, however, at the same time, said we respect the order passed by the green tribunal.

Sanjay Kumar Singh, the deputy chairman of PMPC, was however, critical of the government's intention.

"We don't know what the government is contemplating. Neither has any meeting been convened nor have we been updated about the issue. We come to know about the latest developments only through newspapers."He, however, told this correspondent that a meeting of PMPC has been convened on 24th of this month which will discuss on length issues including the recent NGT order.