The State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) applied its mind to various relevant aspects and granted clearance on May 16 this year for the proposed conversion of the new secretariat-cum-assembly building at the Omandurar Government Estate here to a multi-speciality hospital.
This has been stated by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in its counter affidavit before the National Green Tribunal comprising Justice M. Chockalingam and Prof. Nagendran, to an appeal against the conversion.
The appellant, R. Veeramani of MKB Nagar here, had challenged the EIAA’s order on the ground that the complex had been constructed based on an earlier environmental clearance of October 20, 2008.
Mr. Veeramani contended that the clearance granted was against environmental law, a notification of September 14, 2006, of the ministry of environment and forest with regard to environmental clearance and against all probabilities of natural justice.
In the counter, filed through the special government pleader, Abdul Saleem, the deputy secretary, PWD, C. Subramanian, said a cursory glance at the impugned order would show that the authority had taken care to impose various terms and conditions for the conversion. He said the EIAA was an authority under the Environment (Protection) Act and had the powers to issue or modify the environment clearance given by it.
The conversion proposal had been formulated taking into consideration all the requirements of a multi-super speciality hospital, the counter said.
