Is there violation of environmental norms during the construction of the metro bridge?
29 Apr, 2012As per the reply given by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act it has been claimed that DMRC has violated the environmental norms in the construction of a bridge parallel to the existing Nizamuddin Bridge. The reply said "except the bridge, foundation and piers, no other structures will be constructed on the Yamuna floodplain without clearance from the standing committee……the floodplain will not be used for dumping of surplus/construction spoils by executing agencies or vendors and if they do so, a penalty will be imposed by DMRC".
Environmentalists have pointed to the condition set by the Yamuna Standing Committee that no labour camps, construction material yards or batching plants can be built on the floodplain or river bed for the project and have claimed that the DMRC has flattened the area in the intersection of the bridge and Ring Road in violation of norms.
The DMRC has reportedly stated that the tendering was done long before conditions were laid, they have been continuing with the work and would now look into the matter and see what can be done. A NGO has claimed that the site was originally meant for Rajeev Smriti Van and the site went under water during the September 2010 floods.