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 by Hon’ble
Dr. Justice Jawad Rahim vide our Original Application No. 418/2018 (M.A. No. 961/2018) Green Circle Vs. CPWD & Ors. The petition has been listed form admission in NGT on 2.7.2018
Green
Circle in its petition highlighted the following issues
1.
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 ;
2.
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
3.
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 ;
4.
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
5.
Transplantation of Trees as chances
of survival is very poor and 1:10 ratio plantation will not be feasible
6.
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.
7.
Shift Project
elsewhere
The Urban Development Ministry /DDA could find alternative location for housing
the accommodation of govt. Officials in Delhi or elsewhere.
8.
Water shortage Sufficient
availability of Water during construction of the Project and potable Water after
construction are not addressed
9.
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.
10.
Landfills we are not having
sufficient space for Landfill in Delhi. No other Landfill areas/ Extra capacity
in STP have been identified
11.
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.
12. 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 ;
a.
Grant
an Interim and Ex-Party Stay to all
the redevelopment project of all 7 General Pool Residential Accommodation
(GPRA).
b.
Restrain CPWD and NBCC from carrying out construction without
placing before this Hon`ble Green Tribunal the assessment of parameters stated
in our Petition,
c.
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
d.
Direct
Dept of Forest & DPCC to place on record impact assessment on Ecologically Sensitive Areas Around ;
e.
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
f.
Pass
Order to get suitable compensation
from the Respondents and if any compensatory deposits were made by the
Respondents which are to be forfeited.
g.
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.
h.
A
Permanent Policy may be developed
and implemented to address that such type of situation may not occur in the
near future.
i.
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.