CASE AGAINST NBCC FOR DEMOLITION WORK
VIOLATION OF HC ORDER Complaint says firm has continued demolition, soil excavation work at Sarojini Nagar and Netaji Nagar
NEWDELHI: A police complaint has been registered against NBCC (India) Limited, a central government-funded construction company, for allegedly continuing demolition and soil excavation work at the Sarojini Nagar and Netaji Nagar redevelopment sites, thereby violating a Delhi high court order.
The High Court had, last year, asked NBCC, which is under the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MOHUA), to get fresh approvals for resuming work at the site after it was challenged for a number of issues including large-scale tree felling to redevelop the colonies.
According to the complaint filed on Friday, the construction company started the demolition work even though it was required to conduct an environment impact assessment (EIA) and get fresh environment clearance from the agencies concerned in order to start work.
“When I visited the site, I was shocked to see the massive demolition work already underway even as the company had not got due approvals. This is a direct violation of the court order,” said Bhavreen Kandhari, a resident of Defence Colony, who has filed the complaint. Besides, she said, the NBCC officials said they had received permission for pruning of trees at the sites.
A complaint in the matter has been filed at the Sarojini Nagar police station. Devender Arya, deputy commissioner of police (south-west), said, “We have received a complaint and we are looking into the matter.”
Despite calls and text messages to the chief public relations officer and the chairperson of NBCC, no officer from NBCC (India) Limited responded to the allegations.
The high court had, in its order dated October, 2018, stated, “NBCC should be permitted to approach appropriate statutory authorities for necessary approvals of the revised proposals, which shall be considered by the said authorities in accordance with law.”
The approvals for the redevelopment of seven central government housing colonies, including Nauroji Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Mohammadpur and Srinviwaspuri, were challenged before the court in the light of acute air pollution, water crisis and impacts of largescale felling of trees among other issues.