he proposed 40-storey five-star hotel in Lower Parel being developed under the Shangri-La luxury brand may not get environmental clearance following an adverse recommendation by the State Expert Appraisal Committee ( SEAC) of the Union environment ministry.
After a recent meet at which representatives of the hotel’s developer Phoenix Mills made a presentation, the SEAC pointed out several violations of norms. It has also not pared government agencies for granting clearances that were within its jurisdiction.
The SEAC pointed to the lack of sufficient open spaces which, apart from violating Development Control Rule 23, raises a question on the project’s firefighting abilities. The panel said, “It’s not clear how directives regarding fire-fighting for buildings higher than 70m, as laid down in the new DC rules of January 6, 2012, such as fire check floor and fire chutes, will be implemented.”
Pointing out the “extremely tall” structure with its height crossing the 150m mark, the SEAC said the required “front and side clearances and setbacks as required are not given. On the drainage channel side, clear setback is not even 4m. On all other sides, it is about 6m, which can prove hazardous.”
Stating that the SEAC was an advisory committee, Phoenix Mills executive officer Shishir Srivastava said they would now present its case before the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
“All our construction has been done as per approvals granted by relevant authorities — urban development department (UDD), high-rise committee (HRC), BMC, town planning, etc. If the (expert appraisal) committee wishes to add any more environment-related conditions, we will be happy to comply.”
The panel also pulled up the BMC for issuing the commencement certificate (CC) on March 22, 2004, and subsequently allowing amendment of the building plan four times — including three occasions after 2006 when the environment ministry’s Environment Impact Assessment notification created the SEAC and SEIAA (State Environment Impact Assessment Authority) to clear such big projects.
The panel was also unhappy about the BMC’s issuance of a part-occupation certificate on May 26, 2010, before the project got the environmental clearance, and asked the state environment department to look into it.
As per official norms, any project with a total built-up area exceeding 20,000 square metre requires environmental clearance from the SEIAA and SEAC.
On May 14, media had reported about the committee’s strong objection to the project proponent undertaking construction without receiving the environmental clearance. After hearing the proponent at its recent meeting, the SEAC gave its decision. This is negative for Phoenix Mills.
At 10.25 am, Phoenix Mills was trading at Rs181, down by 1.23%, with a volume of 90 shares on the BSE.
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After a recent meet at which representatives of the hotel’s developer Phoenix Mills made a presentation, the SEAC pointed out several violations of norms. It has also not pared government agencies for granting clearances that were within its jurisdiction.
The SEAC pointed to the lack of sufficient open spaces which, apart from violating Development Control Rule 23, raises a question on the project’s firefighting abilities. The panel said, “It’s not clear how directives regarding fire-fighting for buildings higher than 70m, as laid down in the new DC rules of January 6, 2012, such as fire check floor and fire chutes, will be implemented.”
Pointing out the “extremely tall” structure with its height crossing the 150m mark, the SEAC said the required “front and side clearances and setbacks as required are not given. On the drainage channel side, clear setback is not even 4m. On all other sides, it is about 6m, which can prove hazardous.”
Stating that the SEAC was an advisory committee, Phoenix Mills executive officer Shishir Srivastava said they would now present its case before the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
“All our construction has been done as per approvals granted by relevant authorities — urban development department (UDD), high-rise committee (HRC), BMC, town planning, etc. If the (expert appraisal) committee wishes to add any more environment-related conditions, we will be happy to comply.”
The panel also pulled up the BMC for issuing the commencement certificate (CC) on March 22, 2004, and subsequently allowing amendment of the building plan four times — including three occasions after 2006 when the environment ministry’s Environment Impact Assessment notification created the SEAC and SEIAA (State Environment Impact Assessment Authority) to clear such big projects.
The panel was also unhappy about the BMC’s issuance of a part-occupation certificate on May 26, 2010, before the project got the environmental clearance, and asked the state environment department to look into it.
As per official norms, any project with a total built-up area exceeding 20,000 square metre requires environmental clearance from the SEIAA and SEAC.
On May 14, media had reported about the committee’s strong objection to the project proponent undertaking construction without receiving the environmental clearance. After hearing the proponent at its recent meeting, the SEAC gave its decision. This is negative for Phoenix Mills.
At 10.25 am, Phoenix Mills was trading at Rs181, down by 1.23%, with a volume of 90 shares on the BSE.
....more info