Jairam Ramesh seeks details of controversial Adarsh Society

Union Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has asked the Maharashtra Government for details of the controversial Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, the 31-storeyed building in South Mumbai.

Union Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has asked the Maharashtra Government for details of the controversial Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, the 31-storeyed building in South Mumbai.

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State environment minister Suresh Shetty said Ramesh in his letter has sought details of clearances for the building which houses top state bureaucrats and politicians along with Army and naval commanders.

"Accordingly, the state Environment secretary has written to the Urban Development Department seeking details of clearances given by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM)," Shetty said.

The letter was received yesterday asking to check clearance to the building and also its Environment Impact assessment since it falls under CRZ-II, Environment Secretary Valsa Nair Singh said.

The Union Ministry has asked to submit the report till Monday, however, it will take longer time to prepare it. Meanwhile, the Department would try to submit an interim report, she said.

When asked how the Union Environment Ministry cleared the project, the secretary said the clearance was given for limited number of floors.

The society, built on a 6,490 sq mt plot in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) II, was also initially promoted as housing for war veterans and widows.

CRZ II norms put several restrictions on vertical development.