Decision on Environment Ministry''s Adarsh order soon: Maha

Mumbai, Dec 16 (PTI) The Maharashtra government wouldsoon take a decision on the Union Environment Ministry''srecommendation to demolish the 31-storey scam-tainted AdrashHousing Society building here.

"We will read the order issued by the EnvironmentMinistry over the Adarsh society and decide what is to bedone," State Environment Minister Sanjay Devtale told PTItoday.

The Union Ministry has held that the building inupmarket Colaba was "unauthorised" and violated the spirit ofcoastal regulations. It gave the recommendation today afterhearing the society members earlier.

The State government has not yet received therecommendation, but a decision on it would be taken soon,Devtale said.

Opposition leaders and social activists welcomed thedecision and demanded its immediate implementation.

"The Environment Ministry itself has declared thebuilding illegal and it has to be demolished. The bureaucratsinvolved in the scam should also be punished because theentire issue has brought shame to the State," Leader ofOpposition in Assembly and BJP member Eknath Khadse said.

Echoing Khadse, Shiv Sena MP Bharatkumar Raut said theMinistry has taken a right decision and it should beimplemented.

Social activist Simprit Singh said, "We were raisingthe same issue since 2007, but the State Government ignoredus. But after media pressure and public support, theEnvironment Ministry has taken a right decision."

Flats in the building were doled out to politicians,top defence officers and bureaucrats as well as their kin. PTISSG RSY