The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) is set to recommend legal action against two real estate firms-Assotech BEBL Infrastructure Ltd and Utkal Builders Ltd for carrying out construction work without the necessary environmental clearance.
These two real estate firms have proceeded with the construction work on their projects despite the showcause notice slapped by SEIAA, asking them to stop all construction activities till they get the environmental clearance.
“We had issued showcause notices to Assotech BEBL Infrastructure and Utkal Builders and had directed them to stop construction work on their projects till they get environmental clearance. However, it has been observed by an Expert Appraisal Committee of the state environment department through its field visits, that these two real estate companies are continuing construction work, in blatant violation of the Environmental Protection Act. This violation will be taken seriously and the SEIAA will soon apprise the state government on the activities of these two firms, recommending legal action against them”, an official source told Business Standard.
The SEIAA had issued notices to Assotech BEBL Infrastructure, Utkal Builders in July this year to stop work on their projects. While Vipul had complied with the stop work order, the other two real estate players had proceeded with the construction work.
Being B-Category projects with built up area of less than 1.5 lakh sq meters, the projects of these three real estate developers had to take prior environmental clearance from
SEIAA before kicking off construction work. Assotech BEBL Infrastructure, a 50:50 joint venture between Noida-based Assotech Ltd and the city-based B Engineers & Builders Ltd, are developing a group housing project called Cosmopolis at Dumduma, close to the archaeological sites of Khandagiri and Udayagiri on the city's outskirts.
The entire project to be developed in three phases would consist of 666 flats. While the Phase-I as well as Phase-II of the project is scheduled for completion by December 2011, the entire project is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2012.
The area of these apartments would range from 1225-2050 sq ft with the apartments being priced at Rs 2,500 per sq ft.
The second phase of the Cosmopolis project would offer apartments with upscale amenities like designer wardrobes, modular kitchen with chimney and hob, designer lights and fittings as well as bathrooms with shower panels and glass partitions. Utkal Buiders had got the stop work notice for its Royal Residency project being developed in the heart of the city.
The project is designed for the high-end customers.Gurgaon-based Vipul Ltd been proceeding on construction work on its group housing project spread over 10 acres of land at Shankarpur mouza on the outskirts of the city after getting the building plan approval of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) in April 2009.
The entire project consisting of 578 apartments in 10 towers was scheduled for commissioning within four years.Vipul's group housing project would offer a mix of 2 BR (bedroom), 3 BR and 4 BR apartments which would be priced at Rs 31 lakh, Rs 37 lakh and Rs 45 lakh respectively
