SC clears construction activity at Noida park

SC clears construction activity at Noida park

In a reprieve for Mayawati, the Supreme Court on Friday cleared Uttar Pradesh government's ambitious project to construct and install statues of Dalit icons at a park in Noida, saying it does not come under forest land.

"We have found that it is not on forest land," a bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices Aftab Alam and K S Radhakrishnan said.

However, the bench said there was concern that the project is in proximity of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

It said all conditions and guidelines laid down for the project have to be followed.

The Special Forest bench also put a rider that the 'pucca' construction and hard landscaping should not exceed 25 per cent of the site area.

Further, of the 75 per cent of the land, 50 per cent should have trees towards the direction of Okhla Bird Sanctuary and 25 per cent area should be covered with grass.

The bench said a three-member committee will ensure that the construction activity will be carried out in accordance with the conditions and guidelines laid down by it.

The members of the committee will comprise one from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, one from apex court appointed central empowered committee and the chairman of Noida Authority.

The project was mired in controversy following filing of some public interest litigations (PILs) against its execution, on the ground that it violated various environmental norms and building bye-laws.

Uttar Pradesh government has been defending the project, maintaining that it did not require any environmental clearance, a stand which was also supported by the Union government.