Stay on Tata’s Camelot project remains: HC

The Bench showed little conviction in the demand made.

Meanwhile,the counsel appearing for Punjab sought time to file a report with regard to the project.

The case was adjourned to the second week of September after the counsel for the petitioner in the case,Advocate D S Patwalia contended that the master plan for Chandigarh,being prepared by Chandigarh and states of Punjab and Haryana shall be completed.

Patwalia averred that once the master plan of the city is complete,picture with regard to the Tata Camelot project will be clear since the plan will give a finding on the project.

He added that a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking completion of the master plan is coming up for resumed hearing in the first week of September and that the Bench shall adjourn the case challenging the Camelot project to any date after the hearing of the said PIL.

Accepting the request,the Court adjourned the case to the second week of September. No construction whatsoever will be conducted for the Tata Camelot project till next date of hearing of the case.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a PIL arising out of a suo motu notice taken by the High Court on a news item,highlighting the threat to Chandigarh’s heritage with the construction of the project,published by Newsline.

In an affidavit,the Central government had stated in February that the the Tata Housing Development company had not taken any environmental clearance from the Centre.

On the other hand,Tata had submitted that “The project will not adversely affect the character of Chandigarh as planned; it will not mar the skyline of Chandigarh; the project does not fall in the catchment area of the Sukhna lake and it will not contribute to the siltation of the Sukhna lake.”