By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Monday made it clear that any construction near the Yamuna river for the Commonwealth Games 2010 would not be allowed and gave directions for a committee, headed by noted environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, to oversee all construction activities.
A division bench headed by Justices A.K. Sikri and Rekha Sharma made it clear that till further orders of the court all construction would be the responsibility of the government and the construction company.
A five-member committee will oversee the ecological impact of the construction of the Commonwealth Games Village near the Yamuna river in the capital. The court said the committee should submit its report within three months of its formation. Only Pachauri’s name has been fixed.
“We amply make it clear to the respondents (government and others) that if they carry out any construction, they will be doing so at their own peril,” the bench said.
The court will decide Dec 5 on the other names for the committee – as proposed by the government and petitioners.
The court’s order came on a bunch of petitions seeking its direction to restrain the government from carrying out any constructions on the riverbed for the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
The petitioners contend that the construction would disturb the ecological balance and hinder ground water recharge and environmental regeneration.
Admitting their plea, the court, however, refused to stay the construction work, saying that all construction would be subject to the final outcome of the hearing on the matter based on the committee’s report.
“If the report finds that it (construction) would affect environment, then we will pass proper directions,” the court said.