BY TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 02, 2018: THE Development quite often leads to disputes. But if it is redevelopment it would naturaly be more contentious. On the issue of redevelopment of government colonies in South Delhi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a slew of instructions such as ordering a status quo on the felling of trees in several colonies in South Delhi and also directing that no trees would be cut till July 19 by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The bench headed by acting Chief Justice of the NGT, Justice Jawad Rahim, also directed the proponents of the redevelopment project to inform it about the exact number of trees which are proposed to be cut.

The environmental watchdog also directed the project proponents to file their responses before July 19, 2018. The Tribunal was hearing a plea by NGO - Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions & Promotion of National Awareness (SPCHETNA) seeking a stay on the proposed felling of more than 16,000 trees for re-development of the colonies. The petitioner claimed that environmental clearance has been granted for seven general pool residential colonies without taking into account possible adverse effect on the ecology. It was also claimed that the clearance had been granted for colonies in Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar through the NBCC and in Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Srinivaspuri and Mohammadpur through the CPWD.

The petitioner further claimed that planting of saplings at another location as compensatory afforestation would not reduce the burden put on the environment due to the large-scale felling of trees. The petition has made the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the CPCB, the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the CPWD and others as parties in the case. Mr Anil Sood, the president of the NGO, stated that the Centre gave clearance to the projects without considering several factors, such as existing population density and the impact of cutting 16,500 trees on the ambient air quality in the area. Moreover, the plea stated that an environment impact assessment report for the project around south Delhi showed that 11,000 trees would be cut in Sarojini Nagar, 1,465 would be cut in Nauroji Nagar, 3,033 would be chopped off from Netaji Nagar and another 520 would be cut in Kasturba Nagar, out of a total of 19,976 trees in these areas.

The re-development scheme plans to replace existing flats of Type I to IV with a built-up area of around 7.49 lakh square metres with Type II to VI units with built-up area of around 29.18 lakh sq m with supporting infrastructure facilities. The projects would also develop government office accommodation of nearly 2.42 lakh sq m in Netaji Nagar. The total estimated project cost of Rs 32,835 crores includes maintenance and operation costs for 30 years and would be completed in five years in a phased manner.