Won’t regularise tower: Ramesh

Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has ruled out the possibility of regularising Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society at Colaba.

Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has ruled out the possibility of regularising Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society at Colaba.

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The state Environment Department’s interim reports said that the 31-storey tower at Colaba does not have environment clearance.

The tower at Colaba was allegedly built in violation of coastal and building norms.

“There is no question of using discretionary powers to regularise the structure. If the law was violated, there will be no regularisation,” Ramesh told Hindustan Times on Tuesday.

Quoting an interim report filed on October 29, Ramesh said: “No Coastal Regulation Zone clearance was given. Now we are awaiting a final report, which is expected on Thursday.”

This is an indication that the final report might not be good news for Adarsh. Ramesh might be left with no option but to order the structure’s demolition.

“That option will be given serious consideration,” said Ramesh. What were the other options? “Let’s see; certainly not regularisation,” he said.

Senior state officials, however, said the report might not be submitted on Thursday. “We have to still collate all the information. The Environment Department received notings and files from the civic body and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, but we are awaiting notes from the Urban Development Department,” said an official.