The Rs.4,264-crore architectural masterpiece under way to replace the pitiful matchbox houses for government employees in East Kidwai Nagar near AIIMS here has been okayed by the National Green Tribunal. The Tribunal is of the view that the redevelopment plan has taken care of all environmental safeguards and will provide more houses in lesser space.
“There is no reason for the Tribunal to believe that the precautionary principle and the principle of sustainable development would be violated or compromised, if the said project is implemented,” said a Bench headed by Justice P. Jyothimani.
It noted that the “environmental clearance granted to the project in August 2012 ensured that air and water quality, municipal solid waste disposal, sewage treatment, traffic management, creation of green spaces, use of solar energy etc. have been optimally built into the project design and implementation”.
However, the Tribunal was concerned that the sewage from Kidwai Nagar East Complex after treatment would be discharged into Barapullah drain which joins the Yamuna and directed that it be rather discharged into the city’s sewerage system with consent from DPCC.
The Bench passed the judgment on an application filed by Defence Colony resident Rajiv Suri contending that the government housing complex being built by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) would increase air, noise and traffic pollution and should therefore be scrapped immediately. Mr. Suri had contended that the project with three basements would affect the ground water level.
The NBCC, on the other hand, claimed that a total of 46 environmental conditions have been stipulated for the project with clearance from UTTIPEC, DUAC and Airports Authority of India.
It has already started booking space and received Rs.1,385.36 crore as booking amount.
An audio-visual presentation before the NGT showed that the redevelopment will be done on 2,84,930 sq m area. The permissible floor area ratio is 11,48,538 sq m as against the proposed FAR of 7,03,025, which shows that the entire area is not being used under the project.
The existing dwelling units are 2,331 against the proposed 4,842 units with a proposed height of 46.80 metres against the existing 9 metres. The proposed number of floors is ground plus 14 against the two-storey units at present.
The NGT also noted that the debris generated due to demolition is being converted into tile blocks which will be used in the houses.
