SC clears decks for Talkatora demolition

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court has cleared the decks for the demolition of Talkatora Stadium to make way for the 2010 Commonwealth Games here.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Arijit Pasayat and S H Kapadia permitted the NDMC on Friday to go ahead with its plan of replacing Talkatora Stadium with a new multi-storey complex for holding the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The permission was granted following the submission made by the NDMC that the Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) has already granted permission for demolition of the stadium and its swimming pool.

Amicus Curiae, senior counsel Harish Salve, also submitted before the court that the permission for removal of Talkatora Stadium may be granted.

The government is going to construct a multi-storey complex in a time-bound manner with a cost of over Rs 34 crores.

According to the NDMC, the stadium, spread over 24.77 hectares, is in the ridge area and no construction can be carried out without the permission of the apex court.

The stadium shall be replaced by a four-storeyed boxing ring.

The NDMC has also been permitted to cut over 100 mulberry, gulmohar and eucalyptus trees for the upcoming project.

The CEC has, however, imposed certain conditions such as the project should be technically feasible and the NDMC shall have to transplant new trees in place of the felled ones.

The NDMC shall also have to deposit five percent of the project cost, that is, Rs 1.74 crores with the Ridge Management Board for undertaking fresh conservation programme.

The NDMC shall have to obtain all necessaery clearances from the authorities concerned before starting the project.

UNI