National Green Tribunal (NGT) has allowed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to construct a bridge on the Yamuna floodplain under Phase-IV project. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel passed the order after noting the recommendations of the Principal Committee, which said that the project could be approved subject to certain conditions.
The tribunal does not have any assistance to any rival viewpoints to deal with the present issue so as to go into any possible objection to legality substantive or procedural, it said. “Having regard to the nature of the project and opinion of the Principal Committee, we do not see any prima facie objection to the project. The same must, however, comply with legal requirements and procedures,” said the bench, also comprising Justice SP Wangdi.
To ensure further environmental safeguards for river Yamuna and its floodplain on account of such activities in future, besides individual evaluation of such projects on environmental yardstick, cumulative impact assessment is required to be carried out, it said. Such assessment would be able to capture holistic picture in terms of impact of such activities and the required mitigation measures, it added.