NGT seeks centre’s response on East Kidwai Nagar redevelopment

The National Green Tribunal on Monday sought response from the centre on a plea requesting a stay on commercialisation and redevelopment of East Kidwai Nagar area here being undertaken by the Ministry of Urban Development.

A bench headed by UD Salvi sought response from Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and others.

The bench directed them to file their replies within two weeks and listed the matter for next hearing on 12 August.

‘Replies be tendered within two weeks from today with advance copy of the reply to the applicant,’ the tribunal said.

The green bench was hearing a petition filed by Rajiv Suri challenging the construction and 

redevelopment project at East Kidwai Nagar, 

where residential and commercial space would be developed for government employees.

The petition seeks revocation of the Environment Clearance allegedly obtained by the National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (builder of the project) on concealment and misrepresentation of facts regarding development of commercial area within the project.

The petition claims that the project undertaken on a massive scale is bound to result in a massive environmental degradation on account of its adverse impact on the soil and underground water level.

The plea, further, seeks urgent relief by way of status quo being maintained in the density of residential units and height of the buildings in the project.