Jan. 7: The controversial Akshardham Temple, built on the banks of the Yamuna river five years ago, against strong environmental protests, did not receive environmental clearance. The Union minister for environment, Mr Jairam Ramesh, exploded a bombshell when he revealed that the temple authorities had not even bothered to seek any environmental clearance.
But he then went on to explain: “We can’t demolish the complex spread over 30-acres of land but we must (now) work to ensure that the remaining Yamuna riverbed remains protected.” “I am seriously considering the setting up of the river regulatory zone to protect all our rivers from being destroyed. It is important for me to ensure that the Yamuna river zone does not get further devastated by construction activity and should be a wake-up call for all of us,” the minister said.
When asked whether the Commonwealth Games Village had also violated environmental norms, Mr Ramesh conceded, “I was personally opposed to its construction, but the it had received clearance from none other than the SC.”