New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for the sanction plan for constructing an indoor basketball stadium in a park in Karol Bagh area for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Reserving its final order, a division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar said: “We cannot allow any activity in the park until and unless a proper sanction plan is submitted to us.”

Refuting the MCD’s contention that the Delhi lt-governor (LG) approved the plan for construction, the court said: “LG is not an architect nor an engineer. We want the approved plan from the town planner department by tomorrow (Thursday).”

“You are answerable to the public at large. How can you use an ornamental park (Ajmal Khan park) for constructing a stadium when the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has clearly stated that no construction is permissible? Bureaucracy is the only objective your department (MCD) can easily comply with,” said the bench.

The MCD contended that no other sports facility is available to the children of the locality and said: “The Basketball federation is organising camps regularly in the park for the past 40 years or so.”

The court acted on a public interest petition filed by voluntary organisation Paryavaran Evam Jan Utthan, which challenged the construction on the ground that it was not environment-friendly.

The NGO alleged that a 100-tonne AC plant would be installed at the stadium, which is very hazardous for the environment.

“How is the MCD different from any other private builder who keeps on constructing without prior sanction? It is really shocking,” observed the bench.

The proposed stadium, being constructed by the MCD at a cost of Rs.60 million, would be a world-class facility with 3,000-seating capacity. It would have 10 rooms for players and an ultra-modern gym.