Vasant Kunj, Saket malls depleting green cover in ridge:Jolly

New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) BJP MLA Vijay Jolly today accused the Delhi Government of and the DDA contributing to the depletion of green cover in the Ridge area in South Delhi by allowing construction of huge malls in Vasant Kunj and Saket.

''Land in Vasant Kunj was auctioned by the DDA between 2001 and 2006 for Rs 110 crore for five mega projects while 54 acre land in Saket was auctioned for Rs 260 crore for building of five malls. By allowing hotels and mall projects to come up in the 640 hectare Vasant Kunj Ridge area, a vital water recharge area where 85 per cent water percolates as per CGWA, the DDA failed to perform its role as custodian of the public land in the capital,'' Mr Jolly said at a joint press conference here along with the legal activist of the Ridge Bachao Andolan Kumar Onkareshwar Nath.

Demanding a CBI enquiry against three senior DDA officials - Subhash Sharma (vice chairman DDA 2001-2003), Anil Baijal (vice chairman, DDA 2003-2004 and secretary, Union Ministry for Urban Development) and Madhukar Gupta (vice chairman, DDA 2004-2006) - in whose tenure the land deals and auctions took place, Mr Jolly and Mr Onkeshwar Nath demanded demolition of Vasant Kunj mall structures and stay on the ongoing construction activity in Saket Mega malls.

They alleged the mega malls in Vasant Kunj and Saket were built in violation of the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986.

''These mall owners did not obtain environment clearance as per Government notification dated July 7, 2004. Any project above Rs 50 crore needs environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Delhi Pollution Control Committee is required to invite public objections/suggestions/comments and conduct public hearing. But no such measures were adopted before starting construction works,''they alleged.

An expert committee of the Ministry for Environment and Forests, in an affidavit filed in the Supreme court, which was hearing a petition by the RBA, had described the mega projects as environmentally unsound. The apex court had, on May 1, 2006 stayed the construction of three shopping malls and four corporate offices.

Mr Jolly and Mr Kumar said that as a result of the coming up of these malls, South Delhi is rapidly losing its green cover and gradually turning into a concrete jungle.

''Green area of South Delhi has declined from 52.52 sq meter in 2001 to 40.61 sq m in 2005, a fact that should be a matter of concern for elected law makers, scoial activists, environmentalists and judiciary,'' they said.

UNI AR PA RN1655