Little purpose would be served nit-picking over who initiated the plan, who cleared it, and the customary blame-game associated with most government projects.

The traffic congestion near AIIMS last Thursday served to reinforce apprehensions consistently articulated by the Delhi High Court over the project to redevelop several government housing colonies in South Delhi, and create a commercial monstrosity along the choked Ring Road.

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The High Court has yet again been scathing in its observations when declining to vacate its stay order on the construction: what began as a protest by citizens against the felling of over 16,500 trees critical to maintaining air-quality has snowballed into a full-bloodied controversy which might even have some electoral implications next year.

Potential vote-share is, however, of trivial consequence ~ more important is public dismay over the authorities trying to use their muscle to quell dissent.

Tribute has just been paid to Atal Bihari’s Vajpayee sustained efforts at governance rooted in consensus, the ministry for housing and urban affairs would boost its reputation if, taking a cue from the much-loved former Prime Minister, it ordered a comprehensive review of the redevelopment exercise ~ the High Court has already ridiculed the contention that a lot of money has been spent on it.

“Better to stop now, when the loss would be only Rs 150 crore, than stop later when the loss would be much more” observed a Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao when dealing with a complaint that the environment clearance had been incorrectly issued.

The allegation that the several parts of the Environment Impact Assessment had been “lifted” from a report pertaining to a mine in Tamil Nadu merits a separate inquiry by the court/ministry for it points to something too “fishy” to be explained away as a translation or typographical error.

Surely minister Hardeep Puri will not be so easily taken in. The National Building Construction Corporation would have much explaining to do if a probe was ordered.

As a public sector outfit, it cannot afford to be perceived as part of the builder’s lobby. A comprehensive review would require critical evaluation of the electricity, water supply, sewage and drainage in all the six or seven colonies where the population-density will be substantially enhanced when multi-storyed blocks replace the existing structures.

Parking could develop into a chronic problem. The Metro line, linking several popular markets, will also have its impact. And, as mentioned earlier, access to AIIMS and the Safdarjang hospital complexes get further complicated.

Piecemeal planning and development or re-development has become the bane of a city where the planning process has been slaughtered at the altar of political expediency.

Ministers and senior bureaucrats need to be pried from Lutyens’ luxury enclave so that beyond its garden-endowed bungalows the city remains liveable. The courts cannot be expected to compensate for every ministry’s incompetence.