SC asks UP govt to file reply for constructing statues

The Supreme Court today directed UP government to file its response on a report by a central committee which said construction activity for installation of statues of chief minister Mayawati and other Dalit leaders in Noida was done without environmental clearance.

The apex court asked the state government to file its counter affidavit on the issue of construction in a Noida park by October 9.

"Let them file the counter affidavit on the Central Empowered Committee's report," a special bench comprising chief justice KG Balakrishnan and justices SH Kapadia and Aftab Alam said when one of the applicants sought stay of the construction activities.

The court, however, refused to pass any order for staying the construction, saying, "How can we pass the order unless we see counter affidavit of the government."

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for one of the applicants, contended that urgent hearing is required in the matter as construction activities are on in full swing.

He said the construction activities were carried out without approval of the ministry of Environment and Forests.

However, his submission was opposed by the state government and senior advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for it, said he would file counter affidavit as a member secretary of CEC had dissented from the report.

The Supreme Court-appointed committee had recommended stopping of construction work at Noida's Bhim Rao Ambedkar Park for violating environment norms.

The report, submitted to the apex court, had also said the construction activity would have adverse effect on the surrounding ecosystem as it is located within 10 km of a protected sanctuary -- Okhla bird park.

It is a very big project and a large number of trees (6,000) have been pulled down to execute the Rs 685-crore project. The government should have sought environment clearance before starting it, the committee said while recommending a ban on further activity.