Yes to construction at CG Village, no to environmental loss: HC

New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today refused to stay the construction for over 1,100 flats for Commonwealth Games Village near the Yamuna and made it clear that all constructions should be within the parameters of the environmental pollution.

A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Rekha Sharma warned the private builder, who has undertaken the construction of the 1,100 flats, that all constructions will be monitored by a committee which will give proper directions to the building activity.

''We amply make it clear to the respondents (Government and others)that if they carry out any construction, they will be doing so at their own peril,'' the bench said.

The Court has appointed a four-member committee headed by environmental scientist R K Pachauri, to monitor the construction and made it clear that all constructions should be within the parameters of the environmental pollution.

The committee would also carry out an assessment of the impact on environment due to the ongoing construction.

Spread over 27.5 acres, the Village in east Delhi will comprise 1,168 flats whose construction is to be completed by the builder, EMAAR MGF, by April 2010, well in time for the Games later that year. Out of the total number of flats, two-thirds will be handed over to the government while the remaining will be owned by the company.

The court's direction came after a pile of petitions were filed by environmental activists, alleging the ongoing construction on Yamuna river-bed would disturb the ecological balance and hinder groundwater recharge and environmental regeneration.

They also sought the court's direction to restrain the Centre from carrying out any construction on the river-bed for the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Refusing to stay the construction work, the court said all such activities would be subject to the final outcome of the case after considering the Committee's report.

''If the report finds that it (constructions) would affect the environment, then we will pass proper directions,'' the court said, while asking the Committee to submit its report within three months of its constitution.

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