Curation Team
CHANDIGARH: The environment department of Chandigarh administration has told the municipal corporation that the “user agency” is required to obtain a green clearance from the competent authority for the MC’s Rs 700 crore housing project in Manimajra.
The department has clarified that the said project falls under category 8(a) of the schedule to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2006, which makes it necessary for it to have a prior environmental clearance.
The letter from the environment department to MC clearly states, “The township and area development projects covering an area of less than 50 hectares and/or built-up of more than 1,50,000 sqm fall under category 8(b) of the schedule to EIA notification, 2006, dated Sept 14, 2006, and rules made thereunder, require prior environmental clearance. For all such projects falling under category 8(a) & 8(b) of the schedule to EIA notification, 2006, dated Sept 14, 2006, and rules made thereunder, the user agency is required to obtain prior environmental clearance from the competent authority.”
It adds, “The building and construction projects having built-up area less than 20,000 square metres and above 1,50,000 square metres fall under category 8(a) of the schedule to EIA, 2006, dated Sept 14, 2006, and rules made thereunder, require prior environmental clearance.
Further, it is clarified that the term ‘built-up area’ for the purpose of this notification is the built-up or covered area on all floors put together, including its basement and other service areas, which are proposed in the building or construction projects.”
This development has come at a time when the cash-strapped MC was looking to dispose of the land as soon as possible to get money. However, with the UT administration now making it mandatory for the “user agency” to obtain environment clearance, the entire process is taking time.
