SC told investigation against Mayawati complete

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati appearing for the CBI today told the Supreme Court that investigation against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in disproportionate assets case has been completed and the CBI DIG Neeraj Nain who was heading the investigation team was no longer required.

The court made it clear that it was not monitoring the case registered against the BSP supremo under the Prevention of Corruption Act for amassing assets beyond her known sources of income by misusing her official status as state chief minister and ordered that Nain might be relieved of the case subject to the condition that if his presence was required in future he could be recalled.

A Bench comprising Justices S B Sinha, S H Kapadia and D K Jain, also granted three weeks time to the Centre to inform the court about the feasibility of meeting the parameters laid down by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to declare Agra as world heritage city as if that was done UNESCO was prepared to meet the cost of its maintenance including historic Taj Mahal.

Adjourning the hearing of the case till August 28, the court made it clear that the issue of getting Agra declared a world heritage city must be taken up on priority basis as it would solve the problem of funds required to maintain the historic Taj Mahal.

The court, however,rejected the status report filed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The court noted that there was wide gap between what was said and what was done and some responsible officer of ASI must file an affidavit till Friday giving details of steps taken to control air pollution in the city caused by Mathura Refinery '' as we do not accept the explanation offered by the ASI today.'' The court also directed the chairman of Agra Development Authority to submit a report on the preservance of green belt around the historic monument. The court also sought a report from the state government regarding the progess in the work of construction of Gokul Barrage to solve the problem of the drinking water in the city when the Amicus Curiae Krishan Mahajan and petitioner M C Mehta informed the court that there was no progress in the work except foundation stone. Mahajan also raised the issue of corruption when he told the court that Rs 99.5 crores given by the Planning Commission of India for maintenance and upkeeping of Taj had been spent without any tangible progess and the Centre had been making queries about the money and nobody knew where had it gone.

Water pollution is the main problem in the city, the court was further informed.

The court then decided to take up one by one each and every direction issued by it in 1996 as even the constant monitoring of the process of freeing Taj Mahal of pollution for over 10 years has failed to have desired results. The progess on the construction of Agra by-pass to divert traffic so that traffic pollution level may be reduced was found negligible. The UP Power Commission, however informed the court that power station to ensure regular and uninterrupted power supply to Taj Mahal has been set up.

UNI AKS/SC RP VV1829