Prabhadevi project: NGT puts SRA on notice, seeks reply.

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to explain why action should not be taken if it is found that it issued Occupancy Certificate (OC) to a developer when the case pertaining to non-obtainment of CRZ clearance for a project in Prabhadevi was pending.

Social activist Santosh Daundkar, through his lawyer Aditya Pratap, in February filed an application pertaining to a slum-rehabilitation project being carried out in Prabhadevi by B Brother builders. The application alleged that the structure had a total built-up area of 26,000 sq m and was being built without environmental or CRZ clearance.

Listing down the alleged violations by SRA, the application said the authority flouted the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment notification. In addition, the affidavit said, 'No permission was taken from the BMC to construct the building pertaining to CRZ notifications of 1991 and 2011. The Floor-Space Index consumed was in excess of 2.5, even though a maximum of only 1.6 could be consumed at the site.'

The height of the building exceeded the maximum permissible limit of 1.5 times the width of the road and the front open space, alleged Daundkar in his application.

THE INDIAN EXPRESS