Action against housing society in Mumbai within 3 days: Ramesh

NEW DELHI: Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said action against Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai for violation of green norms will be taken in the next two-three days.

Ramesh said Maharashtra environment department has denied giving clearance to the controversial housing society and it seemed the state urban department has given the nod.

"We have received a bunch of papers from the state environment department and the Coastal Regulation Zone department. Based on the evidence that we have got so far, no clearance was given for the Adarsh Society buildings. We are awaiting papers from the state urban development department. Decision will be taken in two-three days," he said.

Ramesh, who had sought a report from Maharashtra government relating to violation of CRZ notification, 1991 on mandatory green norms required for construction of building, said the state urban development department is not authorised to give clearance. "Let's see what they say in their reply," the Minister said.

The society, built on a 6,490 sq mt plot in Colaba in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) II, was initially promoted as housing for war veterans and widows but is in the eye of a storm for violating environmental and other norms and misuse the land granted to it.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today became the first political casualty of the scam as he resigned from his post following a directive from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.