Would not implement environ clauses in bldg bye-laws: DDA

The DDA would not implement the environment clearance clauses in the latest Unified Building Bye-laws for Delhi till the Union Environment Ministry approved them, the housing body has told the National Green Tribunal.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) informed a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar that though it has already notified the unified building bye laws, the conditions relating to environmental issues would not be implemented as of now.
"Counsel appearing for the DDA on instruction from Director of Planning submits that DDA has already notified the unified building bye laws. However, the chapter on environment conditions for sanctioning building plans would not be put into practice/implemented till Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change give its approval/concurrence," the bench also comprising R S Rathore said.

The submission came in response to a plea challenging the government's decision in this regard, alleging that the latest building bye-laws would "dilute and exempt" prior environment clearance for buildings and construction projects.
The green panel also directed MoEF to consider the objections of the applicant before issuing final Notification so that the "unified building bye laws are not in conflict with EIA Notification, 2006".
The plea, filed by NGO 'Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity', has claimed that these bye-laws "seek to defeat and do away with the provisions of EIA notification 2006 relating to requirement of an environmental clearance by buildings and construction projects."

The NGO had claimed that unified building bye-laws for Delhi, as notified by DDA, were "illegal and liable to be set aside to the extent that the same provide for the exemption of environment clearance for building and construction of areas which are more than 20,000 sq mtrs and less than 150,000 sq mtrs in the area of Delhi" under the authority's jurisdiction.