Environment panel issues notice to DDA

The State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), Delhi recently asked the DDA to explain reasons for initiating construction work without getting its approval.
"The DDA has started construction (of its housing project) at Vasant Kunj in South Delhi without getting mandatory environment clearance. We have also found that Union Environment Ministry had last year closed the file related to the project after the DDA failed to provide additional information about it," environmentalist C R Babu, chairman of SEAC, said.

He said that now the authority has been asked to file a detailed reply for initiating construction without approval. The matter will be taken up again next month when the committee meets on September 4.

Eyeing a huge demand for dwelling units, the housing agency has plans to build over total 3000 flats for lower, medium and upper income groups at variable prices in the plot area of 2,36,581 square meters with proposed parking for 3,692 vehicles.
"We have told them that the project does not meet environment norms and they must give additional information that we have sought," the chairman added.

Only after the committee approves the project, it will be forwarded to the higher body, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), for final clearance.
The premier housing agency is already in a dock after its housing scheme 2008 got mired in controversies amid allegations of fake applications. Over 5 lakh people had applied for 5,238 flats under the scheme.