Latest news with #ECs
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
ECI plans to redefine voting with major initiatives
New Delhi: In a sweeping drive to strengthen electoral management and improve voter facilitation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out 21 major initiatives over the past 100 days. The reforms, introduced under the leadership of the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, showcase a big strategic push for several areas. These include procedural clarity, technological integration, and stakeholder inclusivity in the electoral process, say EC sources. These steps were charted out during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) held in March 2025. Election Commissioners (ECs) Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi were also present on that occasion. The initiatives represent a 'purposeful, pragmatic, and proactive' approach in the first 100 days of the new CEC's tenure, added the sources. One of the key measures includes reducing the maximum number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,200. The purpose is to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother voting experience. To further improve access, additional polling booths will be established in densely populated areas, particularly in gated communities and high-rise buildings, so that no voter has to travel more than 2 km to cast their vote.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
HDB launches Sembawang executive condo site, Hougang mixed-use plot for tender; to yield over 1,000 homes
[SINGAPORE] The government released two plots for housing in Sembawang and Hougang for tender on Thursday (May 29), to yield a total of some 1,100 new homes. The Sembawang Road site for an executive condominium (EC) development spans 18,968 sq m (sq m), with a maximum gross floor area of 26,556 sq m for 265 homes. In Hougang Central, a 46,898 sq m mixed-use parcel with maximum gross floor area of 117,245 sq m is expected to provide 835 condo units and 40,000 sq m of commercial space. Market watchers expect strong demand for the new EC project, given the lack of supply of EC units in the north and high take-up rate of new launches. Mark Yip, chief executive of Huttons Asia, noted that recent EC project launches have seen 'very strong demand', pointing to Aurelle of Tampines which sold out in a month. It sold 682 of its 760 units on the first day of its launch in March, at an average selling price of S$1,766 per square foot. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Yip reckons the Sembawang site will attract up to eight bidders and a top bid between S$600 and S$700 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr). Demand for the project on the Sembawang EC site will likely come from Housing and Development Board (HDB) upgraders in Yishun, Sembawang and Woodlands, which have seen a shortage of EC developments in recent years, said ERA Singapore key executive officer Eugene Lim. He expects about 3,500 HDB flats in Yishun and Sembawang to fulfil their minimum occupancy period between 2026 and 2029. 'This should create a healthy supply of potential upgraders for the launch of the future project.' ECs have consistently been popular among upgraders due to more accessible pricing, even as its prices have climbed to new benchmarks. In 2024, new homes ranging from 900 to 1,000 square feet (sq ft) in the Outside Central Region (OCR) recorded a 42 per cent difference in median prices between ECs (S$1.48 million) and private condos (S$2.1 million). 'This gap highlights the value proposition of ECs, particularly for HDB upgraders who meet the income ceiling of S$16,000. Hence buyers, particularly HDB upgraders, see value in ECs,' said Lim. He noted that North Gaia, the most recent EC development in the north, sold out all of its units earlier this year. 'For the rest of the EC market, stock remains low, with only a few available units at Novo Place up for grabs,' he said. However, Lim expects developers' interest may be diluted, with other OCR sites also on the table. Two sites were offered earlier in Woodlands and Bukit Panjang. 'These two sites share similar attributes to the Sembawang EC site, being located in burgeoning estates in the OCR.' Moreover, the tender for the Sembawang site closes on Sep 11, the same date as another government land sale (GLS) tender closing for a large mixed-use site in Chencharu Close, also in the Yishun/Sembawang area. 'This batch closing could moderate developers' interest, as both are extremely attractive potential developments within a similar location in the north region,' said Lim. The Hougang Central site marks the first GLS site offered for bidding in this area since the sale of an Upper Serangoon Road site in 2014. It is Hougang's first new launch since 2019, said Marcus Chu, ERA Singapore's chief executive. Given the lack of new launches in Hougang for nearly five years, Chu expects the project to count on demand from HDB upgraders, as well as from residents living in nearby landed enclaves looking to rightsize. The site is directly above Hougang MRT station and will yield about 40,000 sq m of commercial space – nearly double Hougang Mall's gross floor area of around 21,000 sq m, said Chu. He added that the Urban Redevelopment Authority's master plan points to more housing in Hougang, with two nearby plots zoned for residential use, which can support future retail demand. Huttons' Yip also noted that the mixed-use development will be the first major mall to serve the Hougang estate, and such projects sell well on launch weekends. For instance, Parktown Residence in Tampines sold like hotcakes during its launch in February, with buyers snapping up more than 87 per cent of its 1,193 units. Both Yip and Chu expect joint ventures from developers to bid for this site, given its large gross floor area of more than one million sq ft. Yip reckons the top bid could come in at S$800 and S$900 psf ppr. The tender for the Hougang site closes on Dec 16. HDB said three facilities in Hougang will close in phases to make way for the development of the Hougang mixed-use site. They are the HDB Hougang Branch, which closes on Sep 1; the adjacent sheltered atrium, which closes end-September; and the surface car park at Hougang Avenue 10 that will close end-March 2026. A new round-the-clock e-Lobby will open from Sep 1, after the closure of HDB's Hougang branch. The e-Lobby is equipped with self-help machines, such as HDB e-service kiosks and an AXS machine for residents to complete transactions. The two parcels in Sembawang and Hougang, both 99-year-leasehold sites tendered by HDB, are on the confirmed list under the GLS programme for the first half of 2025.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Sembawang EC site, mixed-use site in Hougang launched for tender
[SINGAPORE] The government released two plots for housing in Sembawang and Hougang for tender on Thursday (May 29), to yield a total of some 1,100 new homes. The Sembawang Road site for an executive condominium (EC) development spans 18,968 square metres (sq m), with a maximum gross floor area of 26,556 sq m for 265 homes. In Hougang Central, a 46,898 sq m mixed-use parcel with maximum gross floor area of 117,245 sq m is expected to provide 835 condo units and 40,000 sq m of commercial space. Market watchers expect strong demand for the new EC project, given the lack of supply of EC units in the north and high take-up rate of new launches. Mark Yip, chief executive of Huttons Asia, noted that recent EC project launches have seen 'very strong demand', pointing to Aurelle of Tampines which sold out in a month. It sold 682 of its 760 units on the first day of its launch in March, at an average selling price of S$1,766 per square foot. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Yip reckons the Sembawang site will attract up to eight bidders and a top bid between S$600 and S$700 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr). Demand for the project on the Sembawang EC site will likely come from Housing and Development Board (HDB) upgraders in Yishun, Sembawang and Woodlands, which have seen a shortage of EC developments in recent years, said ERA Singapore key executive officer Eugene Lim. He expects about 3,500 HDB flats in Yishun and Sembawang to fulfil their minimum occupancy period between 2026 and 2029. 'This should create a healthy supply of potential upgraders for the launch of the future project.' ECs have consistently been popular among upgraders due to more accessible pricing, even as its prices have climbed to new benchmarks. In 2024, new homes ranging from 900 to 1,000 square feet (sq ft) in the Outside Central Region (OCR) recorded a 42 per cent difference in median prices between ECs (S$1.48 million) and private condos (S$2.1 million). 'This gap highlights the value proposition of ECs, particularly for HDB upgraders who meet the income ceiling of S$16,000. Hence buyers, particularly HDB upgraders, see value in ECs,' said Lim. He noted that North Gaia, the most recent EC development in the north, sold out all of its units earlier this year. 'For the rest of the EC market, stock remains low, with only a few available units at Novo Place up for grabs,' he said. However, Lim expects developers' interest may be diluted, with other OCR sites also on the table. Two sites were offered earlier in Woodlands and Bukit Panjang. 'These two sites share similar attributes to the Sembawang EC site, being located in burgeoning estates in the OCR.' Moreover, the tender for the Sembawang site closes on Sep 11, the same date as another government land sale (GLS) tender closing for a large mixed-use site in Chencharu Close, also in the Yishun/Sembawang area. 'This batch closing could moderate developers' interest, as both are extremely attractive potential developments within a similar location in the north region,' said Lim. The Hougang Central site marks the first GLS site offered for bidding in this area since the sale of an Upper Serangoon Road site in 2014. It is Hougang's first new launch since 2019, said Marcus Chu, ERA Singapore's chief executive. Given the lack of new launches in Hougang for nearly five years, Chu expects the project to count on demand from HDB upgraders, as well as from residents living in nearby landed enclaves looking to rightsize. The site is directly above Hougang MRT station and will yield about 40,000 sq m of commercial space – nearly double Hougang Mall's gross floor area of around 21,000 sq m, said Chu. He added that the Urban Redevelopment Authority's master plan points to more housing in Hougang, with two nearby plots zoned for residential use, which can support future retail demand. Huttons' Yip also noted that the mixed-use development will be the first major mall to serve the Hougang estate, and such projects sell well on launch weekends. For instance, Parktown Residence in Tampines sold like hotcakes during its launch in February, with buyers snapping up more than 87 per cent of its 1,193 units. Both Yip and Chu expect joint ventures from developers to bid for this site, given its large gross floor area of more than one million sq ft. Yip reckons the top bid could come in at S$800 and S$900 psf ppr. The tender for the Hougang site closes on Dec 16. HDB said three facilities in Hougang will close in phases to make way for the development of the Hougang mixed-use site. They are the HDB Hougang Branch, which closes on Sep 1; the adjacent sheltered atrium, which closes end-September; and the surface car park at Hougang Avenue 10 that will close end-March 2026. A new round-the-clock e-Lobby will open from Sep 1, after the closure of HDB's Hougang branch. The e-Lobby is equipped with self-help machines, such as HDB e-service kiosks and an AXS machine for residents to complete transactions. The two parcels in Sembawang and Hougang, both 99-year-leasehold sites tendered by HDB, are on the confirmed list under the GLS programme for the first half of 2025.
United News of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC strikes down ex-post facto environmental clearances, bars Centre from issuing future approvals
New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) In a landmark decision with significant environmental implications, the Supreme Court on Friday categorically barred the Central Government from granting ex-post facto Environmental Clearances (EC) for any projects in the future. The Court also invalidated past Office Memoranda (OMs) and notifications that permitted such retrospective approvals, especially in the mining sector. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan delivered the ruling, holding that prior environmental clearance is a non-negotiable legal prerequisite under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. Reading out the operative part of the judgment, Justice Oka said, 'There are no equities in favour of those who committed gross illegalities without obtaining prior ECs. These are not cases of ignorance. The violators include companies, real estate developers, PSUs, and the mining industries. They knowingly proceeded without mandatory clearances,' Justice Oka said. The Court declared that the 2017 notification, the 2021 Office Memorandum, and all related circulars or orders enabling ex-post facto environmental clearance were illegal and hence struck down. It also restrained the Centre from issuing any future guidelines or notifications that would permit such retrospective approvals. However, the Court clarified that ECs already granted under the now-struck-down 2017 and 2021 directives would remain valid and unaffected by the judgment. The ruling came in response to a batch of petitions led by the environmental NGO Vanashakti, which contested the legal basis of the government's Standard Operating Procedures that allowed the regularisation of projects already operational without prior EC. The petitioners highlighted that the term 'prior environmental clearance' appeared 34 times in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, underlining its compulsory nature. The Centre had defended its position by arguing that the 2021 OM and earlier 2017 notification were necessary to deal with legacy violations, claiming that a rigid interpretation would lead to mass demolitions and disrupt essential services. The government further asserted that these instruments were aligned with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and intended to assess and mitigate environmental damage. However, the Supreme Court rejected this rationale, reiterating that legal compliance cannot be an afterthought, particularly in matters concerning environmental protection. The Court's interim stay on the impugned OMs, granted in January 2024, has now been made permanent with this final verdict. The decision sets a precedent for stricter adherence to environmental laws and curbs the recurring practice of regularising violations post-facto. UNI SNG RN
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court strikes down ex post facto environmental clearances to building projects, constructions
The Supreme Court on Friday (May 16, 2025) held the grant of ex post facto or retrospective Environmental Clearances (EC) by the Centre to building projects and constructions a 'gross illegality' and an anathema against which the courts must come down heavily. A Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, in a judgment, restrained the Union government from granting ex post facto clearances in any form to regularise illegal constructions. The court struck down the 2017 notification and 2021 Office Memorandum (OM) of the Centre, which in effect recognised the grant of ex post facto ECs, and connected government circulars, orders and notifications as illegal and completely arbitrary. However, the Bench clarified that ECs already granted till date under the 2017 notification and the 2021 OM would be unaffected by the judgment. Accusing the Centre of 'crafty drafting' to clear illegal constructions through retrospective ECs, the court said the government was only protecting project proponents who had committed gross illegality by commencing construction or operations in these illegal constructions without obtaining prior EC. 'Before undertaking a new project or expanding or modernising an existing one, an EC must be obtained… The concept of an ex post facto EC is in derogation of the fundamental principles of environmental jurisprudence and is an anathema to the EIA Notification of January 27, 1994,' Justice Oka observed. The judgment said the government had issued the 2017 notification despite a clear declaration of the law in favour of prior EC by the Supreme Court in the Common Cause judgment the very same year. 'The reason why a retrospective EC or an ex post facto clearance is alien to environmental jurisprudence is that before the issuance of an EC, the statutory notification warrants a careful application of mind, besides a study into the likely consequences of a proposed activity on the environment,' Justice Oka explained. The effect of granting an ex post facto clearance would amount to giving permission to complete the construction of a project which had started without prior EC. In cases in which the construction was already completed and activities had begun, the retrospective EC would facilitate continuation. Thus, in effect, the ex post facto EC regularised something which was illegal with retrospective effect. Referring to the 2021 OM, the court said the Union government had not 'cleverly' avoided the words 'ex post facto', but the provisions had the effect of allowing a retrospective regime. 'The 2021 OM talks about the concept of development. Can there be development at the cost of the environment? Conservation of the environment and its improvement is an essential part of the concept of development. Therefore, going out of the way by issuing such OMs to protect those who have caused harm to the environment has to be deprecated by the courts… Even the Central government has a duty to protect and improve the natural environment,' Justice Oka underscored.
