HC stops Tata housing project near Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stopped construction of a proposed high-end Rs 1,275 crore residential project promoted by the Tata Housing Development Company in the vicinity of the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh holding that it falls within eco-sensitive catchment area.

Tata Camelot Housing Project spread on 52.66 acres of land near the Chandigarh Capitol Complex featured 19 towers ranging between 7 and 28 storeys. The project was proposed to be carried on the land which was originally alloted to the 'Punjab MLA Society' for construction of residential houses of MLAs of Punjab Legislature.

Subsequently, the land was sold to Hash Builders Private Limited with an understanding that each member of the 'Punjab MLA Society' would be allotted one flat each.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw held that the environmental clearance given for the housing project was not in "conformity with the mandatory requirements of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)".

It said the map of Survey of India demarcating boundaries of the catchment area of the Sukhna Lake is binding on the Punjab government.

"In turn, Tata Housing Development Company Ltd (HDCL) is also bound by the same. The area over which the project in question is proposed to be constructed by Tata HDCL forms part of the catchment area of Sukhna Lake as demarcated in the Survey of India map dated September 21, 2004," the bench noted. The high court order came on a plea filed by the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation and advocate Aalok Jagga against the grant of approval by various authorities to the Tata housing project near the Lake, which was expected to cater to high-profile people.

The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the ambitious housing project which was given clearance by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.