New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed it’s October 24 order directing demolition of the existing parking lot surrounding the world heritage monument Taj Mahal in Agra in four weeks.
A bench of justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta while ordering status quo on its earlier order as well as on fresh construction asked the UP government to spell out a comprehensive policy to protect the monument.
The bench restored the application seeking permission for construction of a multi-level car parking lot. This would be heard after a comprehensive policy is submitted by the government, said the bench.
On October 24, the court passed an interim for demolition of the parking lot, on an application from M.C. Mehta, advocate and environmentalist alleging that UP had not obtained environmental clearances. On Friday, additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta for the UP government along with additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhati pleaded for the stay of the earlier order pointing out that permission had been sought. It posted the matter for further hearing on November 15.
Justice Lokur told the ASG while there was no difficulty in restoring the application, the court wanted to know whether the State had a comprehensive policy for the monument’s protection in the Taj Trapezium Zone.
He said, “We don’t want applications being filed on ad hoc basis for cutting 200 or 400 trees now and then.” The ASG said the State would file the policy in two weeks and meanwhile the interim order should be stayed.
Amicus curiae A.D.N.R. Rao and Mr. Mehta opposed the plea for construction of a multi-level parking lot as it would affect the environment and further no environmental clearance had been obtained by the State. In its application, the UP government submitted that a multi-level parking lot with provision for 404 four wheelers, 22 buses, 250 two-wheelers, 60 battery operated cars and tongas would be constructed for which necessary approvals had been obtained. The Central Environment Committee had also given its nod for the project. 11 trees had to be hacked down for this purpose. The ASG said the present parking lot with space for only 200 vehicles was not sufficient to cater to the needs of tourists.
