Adarsh Housing scam: Demolish building if illegalities confirmed says Jairam Ramesh

NEW DELHI: Environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday said he could order demolition of the Adarsh Housing Society if the final investigation by Maharashtra confirmed the finding that illegalities were committed. The crucial report is expected on Thursday.

Ramesh told TOI, “The interim report has unequivocally noted that the society did not take mandatory clearances from the state environment ministry and the Maharshtra Coastal Zone Management Authority.

The final report expected on Thursday is likely to say the same. The due course of action will be considered then but the MoEF has the power to order demolition of the building.”
Ministry of defence too would be happy with the decision in case the environment ministry gets a final report endorsing the interim one from Maharashtra stating that the building came up in violation of coastal zone regulations.

It has pointed to the security concerns arising from the towering structure, which the MoEF could then order to be demolished.

In the interim report submitted to the MoEF, Maharashtra’s environment department had concluded prima facie that the complex did not obtain necessary environmental clearances, though it was within the Coastal Regulated Zone II. The MoEF had sought a report from the state government, based on TOI’s report of October 25, which had among other things, pointed out that the building did not have necessary CRZ clearances .

The interim report said neither the Department of Environment nor the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) had given permission for the 31-storey building to come up.