By V. Selvarajan
Secretary Green Circle
New Delhi Green Circle, is a Dwarka Based voluntary Non Governmental organisation works on nature and environment for the past 16 years has done substantial work in this field, like tree planting, Tree replanting, Garbage segregation, Awareness programs for Children, Environmental lectures and Shramdaan work etc.
Aggrieved by the unmindful cutting of 16500 trees under the 7 General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) project in South Delhi, Green Circle filed its petition with NGT against tree felling on 29.6.2018. The petition came up for hearing today in the NGT court of Hon’ble Dr. Justice Jawad Rahim & others.
Green Circle in its petition highlighted the following issues
Environmental Clearance for the project has ignored the assessment of population density post redevelopment and floating population density. It has not taken into account the vehicular traffic density post redevelopment and the carrying capacity of all the roads around the redevelopment projects ;Air Pollution The amount of manifold increase in air pollution leading to unprecedented AQI is not addressed. Mega Construction involves Mining, Stone Crashing, Transportation, Batch Mixing, Curing, Grinding , Surface preparation, POP, Spray & Policing etc which leads to increased PM 2.5 and PM 10 level
Ecological imbalance on cutting down large number trees in terms of Oxygen yield, other benefits from trees and how the compensatory plantation of small saplings elsewhere in the ratio of 1:10 will compensate the benefits derived from the existing trees to be chopped ; Accuracy of data on felling Number of trees to be Cut / Chopped off (As per Env Assessment Report one figure, MOEF&CC is providing some other figure and contradictory figures given by Forest Dept Govt of NCT Delhi LG office has provided
Transplantation of Trees as chances of survival is very poor and 1:10 ratio plantation will not be feasible Lutyens time tested design The fact that the project area which was developed during 1920s i.e lutyens period (particularly NDMC Areas) has withstood the test of time and is still proudly regarded as one of the finest designs cannot be ignored and what is the need for redevelopment of the same area once again.
Shift Project elsewhere The Urban Development Ministry /DDA could find alternative location for housing the accommodation of govt. Officials in Delhi or elsewhere.
Water shortage Sufficient availability of Water during construction of the Project and potable Water after construction are not addressed. Power supply Whether extra power required when population in this area will increase manifold and whether more power will be required in high rise due to additional lifts & water pumps.
Landfills we are not having sufficient space for Landfill in Delhi. No other Landfill areas/ Extra capacity in STP have been identified
Population Density Delhi & NCR`s existing population density is in comparison to the International Standards based on existing Standards and Norms and if not, how to manage the Projected Population Density.
Tree density Present Delhi Tree Density and projected Tree Density (Tree/ Person) are not in comparison to International Standards.
Our Prayer to The Hon`blw Green Tribunal are as stated below ;
Grant an Interim and Ex-Party Stay to all the redevelopment project of all 7 General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA).
Restrain CPWD and NBCC from carrying out construction without placing before this Hon`ble Green Tribunal the assessment of parameters stated in our Petition,
Restrain from cutting trees and also direct Respondents to place the study of existing AQI and assessed AQI after chopping of 16,575 trees and impact thereof
Direct Dept of Forest & DPCC to place on record impact assessment on Ecologically Sensitive Areas Around ;
Direct DPCC, NDMC, MoEFCC DJB, CPWD & SDMC to place on record the permission given to CPWD and NBCC for supply of fresh water, Establishment of STP and Drainage
Pass Order to get suitable compensation from the Respondents and if any compensatory deposits were made by the Respondents which are to be forfeited.
Pass an Order for developing Gardens, Parks and Parking Slots or any other social welfare activities in those areas where the Trees has already been chopped in the discretion of Hon`ble Green Tribunal.
A Permanent Policy may be developed and implemented to address that such type of situation may not occur in the near future.
Pass any other Order(s) as this Hon`ble Green Tribunal think deems fit and proper in the interest of justice.
On hearing our petition, the Honourable court has admitted our petition and passed on the following order
Notice issued to 12 respondents and status quo passed by high court on 25.6.18 will be maintained and there will not be any felling of trees till next hearing , that is 19.7.18.
