Environment ministry to hear Adarsh society Jan 4

NEW DELHI - The environment ministry Tuesday granted an extension of seven days to Mumbai’s scam-hit Adarsh housing society for the hearing on its show-cause notice for “unambiguously” violating coastal regulation zone (CRZ) laws.

The society, in a letter dated Dec 27, had sought a week’s time from the ministry for the hearing, citing inordinate flight delays due to unpredictable weather and non-availability of counsel, a ministry official said.

“The society will now be heard on Jan 4 at 12 noon and no further extensions will be provided,” the official said.

The society has already been given three extensions either for submitting documents or the hearing into the matter.

In the notice issued Nov 12, the ministry asked the society to show cause why the 31-floor structure should not be demolished forthwith under section five of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The scam relates to the controversial residential block being built in Mumbai’s upscale Colaba locality and in the neighbourhood of naval establishments. Originally meant to be a six-storeyed apartment block for housing Kargil war heroes and widows, it was surreptitiously converted into a plush 31-storeyed building. The society has over 100 members, including former service chiefs, senior serving army officials, bureaucrats, politicians and their kin.