Government justifies ongoing construction work
The government on Wednesday said the Central Vista project is of “national importance” and work is on on it, even despite the Supreme Court’s re-imposed construction ban in the capital.
The urban affairs ministry, in its affidavit, assured the Supreme Court that the project to build a new Parliament building and central vista avenues “produces no pollution”.
A special bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana had on November 24 re-imposed the ban as a draconian interim measure.
However, on November 29, senior advocate Vikas Singh for petitioner Aditya Dubey had informed the court that the Central Vista project was proceeding “in full” despite the ban.
The court had then directed the Center to come clean on whether it was involved in any construction activities in the capital. The bench is scheduled to hear the matter on December 2.
In its affidavit, the Center stated that the construction activities it had undertaken are in two parts – “New Parliament House and Central Vista Ways, which are projects of national importance, and Metro Rail, Railway, Airport, ISBT, etc. “. The ministry said the project complies with construction and demolition waste management regulations and “every condition that is in place to ensure that it does not cause pollution”. The government said measures like anti-smog guns, mist spray systems, dust suppressants, conveyor belts are being followed to move construction materials.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had given green signal to the Central Vista project in the heart of the capital’s power corridor.
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