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Several important works under the Agra smart city project have been stalled due to objections raised by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and forest department. Officials said that Agra Smart City Private Limited, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) which was constituted to plan, apprise, approve, release funds and evaluate development works, didn’t take permission from government agencies before starting work in protected areas.

The Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC), which is the nodal agency for implementing the smart city project, has now applied for no-objection certificates (NOC) for construction of a duct, repairing of drainage system, illumination in Taj vicinity and street vending zone plan.

Under the smart city project, landscaping and beatification works worth Rs 52.30 crore were proposed. These included construction of a duct for laying underground cables and upgradation of drainage system. Soon after work was started, the forest department raised an objection as a few trees were required to be pruned. The department told the civic body to approach the Supreme Court for permission to cut trees in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone.

Under the smart city project, sensor-enabled lights were to be installed at 520 trees around Taj Mahal’s west and east gates. The advanced lights would automatically change colour and intensity according to the season. They would also be manually adjusted to suit different festivals and occasions. The illumination plan was estimated to cost around Rs 5 crore and required pruning of trees, which was objected by ASI.

Earlier this year, the SPV had said a street vending zone on Fatehabad road would be developed by August end, but not even 30% of the project has been completed. Following objections from local businessmen, the work on the plan was suspended. Work to develop a heritage pathway was stopped after ASI raised an objection to construction work near Taj Mahal.

Additional municipal commissioner Vijay Kumar said, “Some of the smart city projects have been stopped due to objections from the forest department and ASI. We have applied for NOCs and work will be restarted soon and completed in a time bound manner.”

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Autor(en)/Author(s): Deepak Lavania

Quelle/Source: The Times of India, 14.09.2018

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