MC told to get green nod for Manimajra housing project

The proposed housing project for Manimajra faces another hurdle as the UT Administration has clarified that it requires environmental clearance before being launched.

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Sources said the UT Environment Department, in a recent communication to the Municipal Corporation (MC), clarified that the clearance was mandatory.

The civic body now plans to hold a meeting with the department officials for a detailed discussion on the issue.

As per the recent notification issued by the Administration, all townships and area development projects covering an area of more than 50 hectares or a built-up area of more than 1,50,000 square metre will now require environmental clearance. The Environment Department has issued the notification in pursuance of the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directions.

The clearance is required in view of the area around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary being notified as an eco-sensitive zone.

Notably, the MC has still not received the clarification regarding the provisions for construction of houses for economical weaker sections (EWS). In the zoning plan approved by the Architecture Department, it has been said that an adequate accommodation shall be provided for domestic servants and other service populations of the EWS members. The number of such dwelling units for domestic servants shall not be less than 15 per cent of the main dwelling units and minimum area is 30 sq m. However, the civic body has not received any policy regarding construction, upper cost limit, specification and process of allotment, etc, of residential units for EWS.

A key project for cash-strapped civic body

The MC’s General House has already approved the terms and conditions of auction of over 7.5 acres of land for a housing project in pocket number 6 of Manimajra. The land is spread across five chunks. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla has been vigorously pursuing the case for the project’s approval. The auction is likely to generate over Rs 800 crore in revenue for the cash-strapped civic body.