The Hindu : SC concern over Taj heritage project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003

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National

SC concern over Taj heritage project

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI July 14. The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the construction of the Taj Heritage Project and observed that there appeared to be "something wrong somewhere''.

A Bench comprising Justice M.B. Shah and Justice A.R. Lakshmanan, referred to media reports on the construction of the project in spite of the status quo order of May 1 and said how could construction go on when the order allowed erection of sand embankments only.

The Bench said "something is wrong somewhere. Some action is required to be taken in this matter, against whom we do not know'' and added that it might even consider entrusting the inquiry to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

But on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Government it was denied that the May 1 order had been violated.

However, it was submitted that the Government would respond to the Commissioner, Krishan Mahajan's application alleging that the State had blatantly violated the apex court's order and spent over Rs. 17 crores in a project which had not been sanctioned by the authorities.

The application said the State Government had betrayed the faith and trust reposed in it by the court by going ahead with the unapproved heritage corridor project when the apex court had directed maintenance of status quo.

He said the irregularities and the unscrupulous manner in which the project was carried on could not have been noticed except for a vigilant media which blew the lid off the illegal work.

He said that only at the initiative of the Union Minister of Tourism, Jagmohan, that the illegal work could be stopped.

He urged the court to set up a nodal authority headed by the Union Tourism Ministry to prepare an action plan for ecological restoration of the Yamuna riverbed at Agra.

He also requested the court to examine the records of the State Government pertaining to the corridor project and suggested that the State be asked to deposit the entire cost of ecological restorations of the riverbed.

On behalf of the National Project Construction Corporation, which was executing the project, the Additional Solicitor General, Mukul Rohtagi, said the NPCC had spent Rs. 40 crores on it under an agreement with the State Government but the amount had not been paid till date.

Bench order

The Bench directed the Delhi and the Uttar Pradesh police to provide protection to Ajay K. Agarwal and his family as they were threatened not to expose the corruption and scandal in the project, involving top politicians.

It posted the matter for further hearing on July 16 when it would go into the details of the advocate's allegation and other issues.

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