NEW DELHI: Today morning, the Supreme Court of India gave a verdict which allows the Central Vista re-development project in Delhi, which has been introduced by the Government of India to redevelop the Parliament area and government offices in Lutyens Delhi. The SC gave its judgment in a batch of pleas challenging the Central Vista redevelopment project, alleging certain violations, including change in land use and environmental compliances.
The judgment held that the exercise of power by Centre is fair and proper to modify the change in land use of master plan 2021. It added that the recommendations made by the environmental committee are ‘just and proper’ as well. The three judge bench, headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, established that the project proponents will have to set up smog towers as an integral part of the central vista project, use anti-smog guns at construction sites, and make use of environment friendly construction material. The court, with 2:1 majority, said that it did not find any infirmity in the grant of approval by the Central Vista Committee or the Heritage Conservation Committee.