In Parliament: Questions raised on Noida statue complex

The issue of the Noida statue complex,created to install BSP symbols after cutting down 6,000 trees,came up in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh replied said the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) did not consider the project to be falling under the purview of environmental clearance. Vinay Kumar Pandey had asked if the state government had taken a ‘no objection certificate’ for construction of the Ambedkar memorial park. Ramesh replied that the SEIAA had said that the project did not require environmental clearance as it has a small built up area.

“The SEIAA of Uttar Pradesh intimated the Noida Authority that because the total plot area is 33 hectares,covered area is 9,542 square metre,environmental clearance is not required,” Ramesh said.