Environmental clearance to public sector construction firm NBCC for redevelopment of three south Delhi colonies was “subject to stipulation” of various environmental safeguards, the Rajya Sabha was told on Monday.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma said environmental clearances are given with specific stringent conditions. Mr. Sharma also said permission for cutting or felling of trees is under the jurisdiction of the State Forest Department and a No-Objection Certificate or permission before felling trees is required to be obtained from them under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.
“The Environment Ministry accords prior environmental clearance for projects or activities listed in the schedule to the Environment Impact Assessment [EIA] Notification, 2006 [and its amendments] after having followed the prescribed process in the said notification. The Ministry, after having followed the prescribed process in the EIA Notification, 2006, granted environmental clearance for redevelopment of general pool residential colonies at Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar in favour of M/s NBCC India Limited, subject to stipulation of various environmental safeguards in terms of the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, under the Environment [Protection] Act, 1986,” Mr. Sharma said.
He was asked whether the Ministry had given EIA clearance to the NBCC for the redevelopment projects. He said environmental clearances are granted with specific stringent conditions, which are both project-specific and general in nature, as well as mitigative measures in accordance with the Environment Management Plan Report, prepared on the basis of the study, and are to be complied with by project proponents. “Compliance with these conditions is strictly assessed, evaluated and monitored by the authorities concerned at the State and Central level,” he said.
