UP backs 100m radius for Okhla eco zone

Delhi/NCR
The Uttar Pradesh government has reiterated to the Centre that the eco-sensitive zone around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary should be restricted to a 100-metre radius, and not 10km as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ruled.

The fresh proposal, sent to the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) around two weeks ago, is consistent with the state’s earlier stand on the restricted area around the sanctuary, said KK Singh, the divisional forest officer of Gautam Budh Nagar.

The MoEF had invited suggestions from the UP government as it works out the contours of what the actual eco-sensitive zone should be — a critical decision on which rests the fate of over 1 lakh homebuyers in Noida who cannot get possession of their apartments. As a result of the NGT ruling, no new building in that area can get a completion certificate.

Till the MoEF makes a decision, a 10km area around the bird sanctuary will remain as the functional restricted zone and builders must seek the approval of the state and national wildlife boards, Singh said.

Singh also said construction work could continue if a project had wildlife board approvals. “There is no stay on any construction in Noida within 10km of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary provided a builder procures NOCs from the state and national wildlife boards. The prevailing idea is that there can be no construction until the final notification arrives from the MoEF. But in reality, builders can procure due permissions from the state and national wildlife boards and seek their clearances to continue construction. It’s only that until the final notification on the actual periphery comes from the MoEF, the 10km limit shall continue to be in place,” Singh said.

The DFO was non-committal on how soon the UP government expected the new eco-sensitive zone to be notified. “It’s a matter of time before MoEF produces a draft notification for all concerned announcing the final eco-zone. Objections or suggestions will be invited after that and the final notification will come thereafter. But we are certain that now the matter will be expedited,” Singh said.

Source:http://content.magicbricks.com/industry-news/delhi-ncr-real-estate-news/up-backs-100m-radius-for-okhla-eco-zone/74995.html