NEW DELHI: After the controversy over the Vasant Kunj shopping malls here in the Capital, it is the turn of the Saket shopping malls to be in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Following protests from local residents and elected representatives, the Delhi Government has initiated a probe into charges against these malls for violation of environmental norms and failure to take No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the authorities before starting massive construction activity.

"The BJP MLA from Saket, Vijay Jolly, had led a delegation of local residents and submitted a written complaint about the construction of the shopping malls in the Saket Community Centre promoted by the Delhi Development Authority. The complainant had stated that these malls had obtained no environmental clearance or NOC before starting construction and were blatantly exploiting the underground water resources threatening to ruin the ecology of the area. The Government has decided to refer the complaint to the State Environment Department and asked it to probe the entire matter and submit a report," Environment and Development Minister, Raj Kumar Chauhan stated.

Mr. Jolly had also lodged a complaint with the Central Ground Water Authority about unauthorised exploitation of water resources by builders in the area and had sought action against them. He had also written to the Delhi Jal Board seeking a probe into why no permission was taken by the builders from the Board before digging for underground water.

"The Minister has assured us that an impartial probe would be conducted into the whole affair so that the whole thing comes out into the open. We want to expose the incidence of corruption that had led to such a situation where the law of the land has been taken for a ride with the connivance of some officials and builders. If we do not get justice from the CGWA and the Delhi Government, then we will have no other option but to approach the court for redress of grievances of the area residents. Nobody would be allowed to go scot-free," Mr. Jolly said.

The local RWAs have held protests against the construction of the malls pointing out that the area was already facing acute water shortage and keeping this in mind it was important the no further exploitation of the already depleted groundwater resources should be allowed.

`No traffic plan'

They also stated that no proper traffic plan had been prepared for the area in view of the massive construction activity going on right now and for the future needs when the malls would become functional.

The RWAs fear that this would lead to a massive congestion in the area and the residents would have to bear the brunt of the outsider invasion leading to an unruly situation.

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