NEW DELHI: The Ridge Bachao Andolan (RBA) along with students of Jawaharlal Nehru University and villagers of Mahipalpur and Kusumpur in South Delhi has petitioned the Secretary in the Union Environment and Forests Ministry objecting to "one-sided hearing on Vasant Kunj Mall Project'' by the Ministry.

In the letter, RBA has stated that after the public hearing on June 19 and 20 the Ministry had once again conducted a site visit on July 7 and 8.

During this visit, a presentation by the allottees of the malls and office complexes was also seen by the Ministry.

However, RBA lamented that despite specific requests to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, South West, none of the petitioners or representatives of the affected population were invited for either the visits or the presentations.

And though, it said, on knowing about the visit and subsequent presentation, nearly 35 representatives of the affected population and surrounding colonies and villages along with JNU students went to the site, they were unable to meet any of the Ministry officials.

As the presentations of the mall owners were heard in the absence of the petitioners or other affected persons, the letter also questioned how the builders were being heard in private in violation of the law.

"Once the public hearing process as prescribed under the law in compliance with the orders passed by the Supreme Court has been completed in the Deputy Commissioner's (SW) office, no further hearing, that too only of the builders, can take place.'' Stating that if at all any hearing has to take place again, the petitioners and the public at large within a 10-km radius should also be invited through advertisement in national dailies and given an opportunity to air their views during such a hearing.

However, the petitioner, Onkareshwar, said such "one-sided hearing is not only against the law, the principles of natural justice, but also an insult to the affected residents, the victims and also at the same time an indication of some special relationship between the Ministry and the project proponents''.

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