New Delhi: Expansion and redevelopment of places such as Kathputli Colony and many DDA housing projects in Delhi continue to remain stuck as the Aam Aadmi Party government, led by Arvind Kejrwal, seems to have no time to reconstitute two crucial state environmental panels that give clearance for construction works. These committees have been lying defunct since April, 2018.
The two environmental panels – State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIA) and State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) – were formed on 1 April, 2015 for a period of three years in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006.
While the three-member SEIA was headed by Krishna Mohan Sahni, the 10-member SEAC was headed by Mukesh Khare.
Centre ‘managing’ state projects
In the 35th Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting (minutes of which has been accessed by ThePrint), that was conducted from 29-31 October 2018 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, a total of 13 Delhi projects were listed for approval before the central board.
Among the 13 projects were expansion of Kathputli Colony, redevelopment of GPRA Colony at Srinivaspuri, proposed DDA housing at Chilla village, extension along with the Ghazipur drain, a multi-level manufacturing hub in Mundka and a hostel block at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.
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‘Overburdened’ central ministry
Khare, who is now a member of the central government’s EAC for non-coal mining projects, said the environment ministry is already overburdened and having to look at Delhi projects now is likely to impact quality of construction work too.
“I know how burdened the ministry is and now it has to also manage clearances for Delhi-based projects. The load is tremendous. The quality of constructions are also likely to suffer in such a scenario,” Khare said.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, mandates prior environmental clearance for new projects or activities, including expansion and modernisation of existing works.
While ‘A’ category projects require environmental clearance from the central ministry, ‘B’ category ones need it from their respective SEIAs.
In the October meeting last year, EAC had also noted that all Delhi projects were in “B category of item 8(b) ‘Townships and Area Development projects’ of the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006″ and required appraisals at the state-level.
No extension of panels
Khare called it “lack of seriousness on the Delhi government’s part” for not re-constituting the two bodies. He also said that the government had earlier given a “verbal confirmation” about extending the panels but that is yet to see the light of day.
“The secretary of SEAC had earlier informed all members that a recommendation has been made to continue this panel but nothing has been done till now,” he said.
“Around four months ago, the government had asked me to apply for chairmanship of the SEAC panel but I declined because it is a high-level appointment for which people are nominated,” Khare said, adding that the Delhi government had also advertised for the post but nothing happened thereafter.
Phone calls and emails sent by ThePrint to Delhi environment and forest minister Imran Hussain and his secretary on the matter went unanswered.
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Delay hazardous for Delhi’s environment
As Delhi battles with severe water crisis, ground water depletion and other environmental hazards, Khare maintained that further delay in setting up the SEAC and SEIA panel is “abnormal” and can prove costly for the capital’s citizens.
“Look at air pollution levels in the national capital, ground water depletion and rampant construction work,” he pointed out.