A proposed 39 floor high rise building that was coming next to the Delhi University Vishwavidhyalaya metro station has been rejected by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) even after its environmental clearance was done by the Union ministry of forest and climate control.
The clearance was quashed on Tuesday quashed citing the reason that this was not done with a proper evaluation.
The National Green Tribunal has however said that the the builder has all the rights to appeal.
The NGT made it clear that under no circumstances will the construction begin till the new Environment Clearance is sought. The clear instructions have been put forth stating that the construction should halt now.
The Builder however can apply for a fresh clearance.The project got a red sign as the DU filed a plea stating that the project would turn out to be harmful for the environment and will impact the quality of air and ground water.
The building was project in the area of 1,37,879.64 square metres ,involves the 39 floors, basement and 446 flats in all.
The site was earlier part of land allotted to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation but was later sold to the private builder post the metro construction.
During the hearing the NGT chairperson justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that “the site of the high-rise was surrounded by a large number of colleges, hospitals and Delhi University departments, and critical environmental aspects were missing from the EC it had received”
The NGT said that the when such projects come,it should be understood that these can cast a huge impact on the environment and thus should be considered on terms of its proximity to things around.”
The NGT also said on Tuesday that the environmental issues should be duly evaluated before clearance.
Tribunal also mentioned that with the noise and pollution the area chosen is in state of problem and any further load will turn to be last nail in the coffin.
Noting that the existing air and noise levels in the area did not permit any further additive load, particularly in the form of a high-rise building, the tribunal said it would also have an adverse impact on the environment.