Hitting out at the BJP-led Centre, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday said that Union Environment Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan had misled Delhiites by claiming that his ministry had nothing to do with the permissions for the redevelopment of seven Central government colonies.
Since last week, the AAP and the BJP have been blaming each other for the felling — both already done and proposed — of trees to make way for redevelopment of colonies in south Delhi.
While the AAP has maintained that the permissions to cut trees was given by the Lieutenant-Governor, the BJP has said that the Delhi government gave the go-ahead.
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Referring to a statement made by Dr. Harsh Vardhan to news channels, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the Union Minister had “deceived the people of Delhi” by saying his ministry did not have anything to do with the projects and that the clearances were given by the Delhi government.
Citing environment impact assessment reports and environment clearances given by the ministry, Mr. Bharadwaj said it was clear that Dr. Harsh Vardhan’s Ministry was involved and that the clearances were a “sham” as concerns, including of over-exploitation of water, were ignored.
Mr. Bharadwaj also cited the Union Ministry’s June 12 letter to NBCC (India) Limited according environmental clearance for redevelopment of General Pool Residential Accommodation Colony, Sarojini Nagar.
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‘Commercial component’
The AAP also raised concerns over the upcoming projects being used not just for housing government employees but for commercial activity as well.
“We had been saying that these projects were being made for government employees. I would like to apologise for that. These projects have large commercial components meant to benefit private entities,” he said. He reiterated the AAP’s demand for the projects to be reconsidered and asked the BJP to clarify its stand on the issue.