Karnataka - Bangalore

NEAA inspects project

BANGALORE: Allegations of gross violation of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2004 and the direction of the Karnataka High Court, by State Government officials in conducting a public hearing for an apartment project in Whitefield, brought members of the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) to the city for spot inspection today. NEAA members K. Prasad, J.C. Kala and I.V. Manivannan inspected the site of the Athashri Housing project proposed by the Pune-based Paranjape Schemes.

C.J. Singh, a resident of the area adjoining the project site, had appealed before the NEAA, which heard the case in September 2007. The project is the construction of 206 flats in Pattandur Agrahara, Whitefield, at an estimated cost of Rs. 13 crore. Mr. Singh has filed a public interest litigation in the High Court against the promoters for misrepresenting facts, and hiding other vital information.

His main objection was that the promoters started construction without obtaining EIA clearance. The land use conversion orders were disputed by him. He maintained that the land, obtained from its previous owner Uma Devi, was meant for residential and semi-public purposes. Besides, the PIL contended that the apartment project, has no plans for waste disposal, water supply and other basic necessities. Further, the approach road to the project was owned by Mr. Singh and he had permitted fellow residents the use of the road, and it could not be claimed by the project promoters. The NGO, Environment Support Group, highlighted the “blatant violation of the law in holding the public hearing on August 23, 2006, despite being informed by the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban to refrain from doing so.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu