NGT asks to halt work, PWD says no nod needed for Barapullah elevated road

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has asked PWD to stop work on the third phase of Barapullah elevated road, connecting Sarai Kale Khan with Mayur Vihar, till it acquires an environment clearance. However, the government agency said that the project does not quality for such a clearance.

A senior official said that contrary to petitioner Manoj Mishra's claim that the project covered an area of 150,000 sq m, it is much smaller. "This particular phase comprises a bridge over the Yamuna, connecting Sarai Kale Khan with Mayur Vihar. It is much smaller and, hence, requires no EC. The other issue raised by the petitioner relates to a hydraulic assessment to determine whether the pillars, on which the bridge will be supported, will disturb the flow of water. This study has already been carried out based on which the Yamuna Standing Committee cleared the project," said the official.

Sources said that the main bone of contention is an RMC (ready mix concrete) plant that PWD is setting up on the eastern side of the river near Akshardham Temple and another one that already exists on the western side. "The one on the western side was established by L&T for Delhi Metro. L&T also works for us and we have said that when the bridge is complete by 2017, this plant can be removed. On the other side, the plant that we are making is on land acquired from the UP irrigation department. We will put all these points across to NGT in the next hearing on October 30," the official said.

"The petitioner also accused us of dumping debris on the floodplains, but L&T has only stored raw material which it required to create the foundation of the pillars. This has been inspected by a representative from the ministry of water resources and DDA," the official added.

The project is expected to be completed in 2017 but officials are worried that this may be delayed if the court insists on an environment clearance.