State green panel slams SRA for overriding its authority

The state's apex green panel that scrutinises all mega construction projects is irked with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority's recent circular, as it thinks the body has overstepped its authority. Ketaki Ghoge reports.

The state's apex green panel that scrutinises all mega construction projects is irked with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority's recent circular, as it thinks the body has overstepped its authority.

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The circular issued on July 5 states that commencement certificate cannot be withheld for want of clearance from the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) for construction on area up to 20,000 square metres.

The circular was issued after a recent high court order in a slum project.

However, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) is not convinced about the authority's decision and has asked the chief executive officer (CEO) of SRA, SS Zhende, to "withdraw the circular or severely restrict its scope taking into account the high court order applies to the rehabilitation component".

The SEIAA in its meeting held on July 24 and 25 cautioned that it is important to ensure that a circular of SRA should not violate the provisions of Environment Protection Act.

The panel has also decided to approach the central ministry over the circular.

The high court order which the panel quoted in the minutes of its meeting has ruled on a specific project and that too after taking into consideration the rehabilitation of 320 slum dwellers, of which 160 had been shifted to transit accommodation.

"You cannot interpret the law selectively, the order was meant for rehab and not free-sale component," said a member.

The minutes of the green panel's meeting point out that past experience shows that once a part of the project is taken up before CC is granted, it is difficult to ensure that all environmental concerns are taken care of.

The panel also stated that though 50 projects were pending for clearance, delays cannot be used as an excuse as a new panel had been set up to consider projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.