Citing lack of environmental clearance, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday ordered that no work should be done on Phase III of the Barapullah elevated corridor.
The Public Works Department (PWD), the agency constructing the bridge over the Yamuna, will now have to seek environmental clearance for Phase III, which will connect Sarai Kale Khan and Mayur Vihar. The first phase of the elevated corridor has been completed, while the second is nearing completion.
The PWD had granted work for Phase III to construction major L&T in March 2015 at an expected cost of around Rs. 1,200 crore. Earlier, the agency had said the project would be completed by December 2017.
The NGT, staying the project till environmental clearance is taken, also issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi government, DDA, PWD and others.
The orders came on the basis of a petition filed by environmental activist Manoj Misra of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan through advocate Rahul Choudhary.
It raised the issue of construction of a bridge-cum-elevated road over the Yamuna under Phase III of the project, which is an extension of the existing Barapullah elevated road, without obtaining environmental clearance as required under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.
“It is to be noted that the Phase III construction is also a violation of the tribunal’s judgement in a separate application on the environment impact of Signature Bridge, wherein the Bench had ruled that construction of a bridge or similar activity covering a build up area of more than 1,50,000 sq metres, or an area of 50 hectares or more, would be covered under EIA regulations and would require Environment Impact Assessment,” said Mr. Misra.
He added that the PWD should have been aware of the NGT’s orders and sought clearance for the Phase III work as the approximate area to be used for construction turned out to be more than 50 hectares.
Mr. Misra added that the project proponent was bound to obtain an environmental clearance before beginning the project.
He also said that the Phase III project was given to L& T in March 2015, after the NGT had pronounced its judgement on bridges like the Signature Bridge.
This, he said showed the negligent attitude of the agencies concerned, considering they failed to apply for the same.
The environmentalist also said the project would expose an already fragile river to a host of threats and pollutants. He reiterated that the construction company had already established a batching plant on the rivers flood plains, which is illegal.
The Public Works Department (PWD), the agency constructing the bridge over the Yamuna, will now have to seek environmental clearance for Phase III, which will connect Sarai Kale Khan and Mayur Vihar
