Delhi’s iconic Rs. 1,131 crore first cable-suspended Signature Bridge by Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTC) will have to undergo another Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) before it can obtain the mandatory Environmental clearance.
A presentation was made on Saturday before the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority/ State Expert Appraisal Committee (which assists SEIAA) for obtaining the EC for the mega-structure.
The SEIAA/ SEAC, however, was of the opinion that since the Signature Bridge had undergone EIA in 2006, a new notification has come in place calling for fresh EIA on various points.
Project in-charge Shishir Bansal told The Hindu that, “A presentation was made before SEAC today. It went well. The SEAC was, however, of the view that an EIA was done for the bridge nine years ago and now a new notification for 2015-16 has come in place. Due to this, a fresh EIA is to be done.”
The Committee also sought the presence of Public Works Department before it since the civic agency will be finally taking over the project.
Mr. Bansal said a new consultant will have to be appointed now for EIA.
The EIA conducted in 2006 had said there was no significant impact of the bridge on the environment.
Back then, EC was not sought as the Ministry of Environment & Forests was of the view that the bridge does not require it.
However, on a petition filed by environmental activist Vikrant Tongad, the National Green Tribunal ruled that the structure at Wazirabad over Yamuna is an area development project with entry 8(b) of schedule to the EIA regulation and therefore needs green clearance and its impact on the river has to be pre-judged.
Saturday’s development further delays the process of obtaining EC for the bridge which had been already delayed due to absence of SEIAA in Delhi which would only be reconstituted in April, 2015.
It will not affect its construction work though as the NGT had refrained from passing any “stop-work” order in larger public interest.
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) in 2006 had said there was no significant impact
of the bridge on the environment
