Site proposed for HC plan falls in ‘eco-sensitive zone’

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has accorded its approval to the “holistic development plan” for setting up imposing multi-storey buildings in its vicinity endangering not only the heritage but also bionetwork.

Documents with The Tribune indicate the proposed site falls within the “eco-sensitive zone” around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and that mandatory clearances are required to be taken from the UT Department of Forests & Wildlife.

Referring to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2017, UT Deputy Conservator of Forests on October 10 wrote to an XEN that the proposed site in Sector 1was within the eco-sensitive zone. The letter said the “user agency”, as such, was required to submit the proposal online at “Parivesh” portal for “submission and monitoring” of environmental, forest and wildlife clearance. The letter’s copy has been sent to High Court Registrar-General and four other authorities.

Another letter was subsequently written by the office of the Chief Architect, Department of Urban Planning, Chandigarh Administration, to the High Court Registrar-General. Calling attention to the communication dated October 10 received from the Deputy Conservator of Forests on the proposed site falling within the eco-sensitive zone, the letter from the Chief Architect’s office read: “The (private) consultant is directed to take up the issue with the Department of Forest & Wildlife, Chandigarh Administration, first to seek mandatory clearances and proceed further accordingly”,

The communication also said the private consultant, who presented the development plan, “may ensure compliance of the notified Chandigarh Building Rules (Urban), 2017, and all applicable regulations for the project”. The communication by the Chief Architect dated October 14 comes more than 10 days after the High Court made it clear that the officer “shall accord the necessary approval to the conceptual plan(s) within a period of one week under intimation to this court”.

The decision taken by the High Court building committee at its meeting on October 3 was communicated to the UT Home Secretary, the Finance Secretary, the Chief Engineer and the Chief Architect by the Registrar-General. In his communiqué dated October 7, the Registrar-General said it was decided that the detailed project report would thereafter be prepared by the consultant within three weeks.The letter also called for “necessary action at the earliest”.

The protected “Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary”, with more than 2,600 hectares of forest land at the foot of the Shivaliks is just about 2 km from the lake. The rain-fed catchment region of the Sukhna Lake partly falls in the wildlife sanctuary.