Fed up with non-responsive authorities, a bunch of alert residents on Wednesday approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to save about 2,500 trees from being felled for an elevated road in north Delhi.
The resident-turned-activists have appealed to the NGT to direct authorities for an appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment before removal of trees from the site at Meera Bagh. The public works department (PWD) has marked more than 2,500 trees for felling for the elevated road between Vikaspuri and Mukarba Chowk. The forest department is yet to give permission to cut these trees.
As reported by HT earlier, the elevated road will stand on pillars that would be constructed on the central verge while the trees that are marked for felling are on the footpaths between the main carriageway and the service road on both sides. The agencies have decided to cut these trees for road widening, after which landscaping is being planned - as approved by UTIPEC, the agency that clears all infrastructure projects - to ensure greenery again at the same site.
"(Please) direct that appropriate Environment Impact Assessments be carried out before the removal of trees for the purpose of "Landscaping" of road," the applicants have told the NGT.
{{/usCountry}}"(Please) direct that appropriate Environment Impact Assessments be carried out before the removal of trees for the purpose of "Landscaping" of road," the applicants have told the NGT.
{{/usCountry}}"The hearing is likely to be held on Friday," said Aditya Prasad, the resident-turned-activist who had filed RTI applications and taken the initiative with others to save the trees.