Centre flouted environment clearance criteria: AAP
New Delhi, June 27: The AAP on Wednesday accused the Central government of flouting all the basic environmental clearance criteria for its redevelopment plans for south Delhi, and demanded scrapping or at least reconsideration of the project.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told the media that a public hearing on the project was also not done which is otherwise mandatory by law for such a big project.
Bharadwaj showed documents related to the project in which the date of the public hearing for the Redevelopment of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Colony at Sarojini Nagar was "January 1, 1900, whereas the date of submission for the environment clearance was November 28, 2017".
Bharadwaj took a dig at the Central government for mentioning the date of the public hearing as January 1, 1900, saying it "must have been held in past life".
"The projects are only called residential accommodation but a major part of it will be for commercial use, which includes a trade centre and a parking space for 86,000 cars."
He said that the clearance for the projects was given by the Union Environment Ministry on June 12, despite the fact that the Central Ground Water Authority has written that the "ground water level of the area is over exploited".
"Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan is lying. It was his ministry that gave the clearance without looking into the traffic plan for the area and checking the impact of tree cutting on the air quality of the area which is already severe.
"There is no mention anywhere in the Environment Impact Assessment of the impact on the environment," said Bharadwaj.
In Sarojini Nagar, 11,000 trees were to be cut for the redevelopment project, whereas a total of 16,500 tree were to be cut for similar projects in south Delhi.
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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
