AAP welcomes NGT's stay on tree felling

NEW DELHI: Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Monday welcomed the National Green Tribunal's decision to put on hold the plan of axing trees in the city and accused the central government of not informing the green court about its plans to redesign the redevelopment project.

"AAP welcomes the order of Hon'ble NGT to stall any tree cutting by Central Govt's NBCC redevelopment," AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said in a tweet.

He also accused Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri of submitting a statement, different from the BJP-led Centre's previous statement, to the NGT about replanning the redevelopment project.

"Why did Central Govt's NBCC Advocate not state NGT that they are replanning the whole project? @HardeepSPuri sir, Ur Dept's Media statement and Court statement r different !!," he stated on his Twitter handle.

After facing a backlash against the decision to chop down over 17,000 fully grown trees, Puri, on June 28 had called for an urgent meeting with all the stakeholders, where he asked the NBCC to rework and redesign the plans. He also assured that "no trees will be cut in the process of redevelopment of Delhi colonies."

The NGT's stay on the felling of trees in Delhi till July 19 came on Monday after a petition was filed by Delhi-based organisation Green Circle.

Observing that "felling of trees severely impacts and destroys the environment", the NGT said, "NBCC should give us a clear-cut answer about the felling of trees and the details of the project."

It sought details by July 19, the next date of hearing. It is estimated that 16,500 trees will be axed for the project, of which over 2,000 have already been felled. NBCC has objected to the figure of 16,500 trees in the NGT, saying that "the numbers are myths, not right".

According to NBCC, around 13,000 trees will have to be axed in south Delhi to redevelop three residential colonies.