Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundations for the new parliament building on December 10.
Highlight
- No construction, demolition for central view project after launch: Top c
- The court says the authorities can do paperwork but not cut down trees; the center agrees
- Center Reprimanded for Acting “Aggressively” Before Decision on Petitions
New Delhi:
There should be no construction or demolition for the central view project after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches a portion of it on Thursday, the Supreme Court said today, rebuking the government for “aggressively advancing” on the plan even before a decision. on the contested petitions. that.
As the government accepted his condition, the Supreme Court said that “the authorities are free to carry out a formal process without altering the site in question in any way.”
“The first stone can be laid, the paperwork can be carried out, but not the construction or the demolition, or the felling of trees,” the Supreme Court told Attorney General Tushar Mehta.
Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone for a new parliament building to be built at nearly Rs 1,000 crore as part of the central view project, it was announced on Saturday.
“We expected them to continue with the paperwork, etc. but not move forward so aggressively as to begin construction,” the Supreme Court told the Attorney General.
“Just because there is no suspension does not mean that construction can begin. We do not pass any clear suspension order because we think you are a prudent litigator and will show deference to the court. News in the public domain shows that construction is beginning. “said the judges.
When Mr. Mehta sought time to respond to the court’s order that no construction or demolition could continue, the court sternly said, “Respond in five minutes or we will pass this order.”
He told the court: “There will be no construction, demolition or logging. Only the first stone will be laid.”
When the judges approved the order, they said: “This matter was listed in light of certain developments. The Attorney General states that there will be no construction activity of any nature at the sites in question, nor will there be any demolition, including the translocation of trees. until pronouncement of sentence in all cases “.
The court has reserved its verdict on a number of petitions challenging the project on environmental grounds.
The Rs 20,000 Central Vista project seeks to renovate and construct government buildings on a 3 km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace to India Gate. The project will be aligned along the Rajpath, the ceremonial road that runs through the heart of Delhi, and will form the seat of government beginning with the Northern Block.
In October last year, the government had said there would be no external changes to the iconic Raisina Hill complex and the Parliament building.
The consulting contract has been awarded to Gujarat-based HCP Design, Planning and Management to renovate the high-profile district in the heart of the national capital.
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