Delhi govt revokes tree felling permission, Hussain writes to LG
NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment and Forest Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday recommended to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to revoke the permission for felling of trees for the redevelopment of three central government housing projects in south Delhi.
In a note to LG Baijal, Hussain said that the user agent has "failed" to carry out necessary compensatory tree plantation and has also "failed" to make available a site to the city forest department for the same which amounts to "violation of NGT orders".
The minister said that penalty should be imposed on the user agency for the alleged violation in carrying out the redevelopment projects in three colonies - Kidwai Nagar, Nauroji Nagar and Netaji Nagar. "As per media reports, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that NBCC and MoHUA are redesigning the entire project to ensure no further cutting of trees. Hence, permissions given so far are redundant. Hence, GNCTD (Delhi government) has decided to revoke all permissions granted so far in respect of unfelled trees," Hussain said in his note to Baijal. He also said, "Therefore, it is strongly recommended that tree cutting permission to the user agency/project proponent may be revoked in all these GPRA (General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) colonies and penal action as applicable as per law may be initiated."
The redevelopment projects in seven south Delhi colonies recently became a contentious issue between the AAP dispensation and the central government over felling of around 14,000 trees. Last month, the Central government had announced that no tree would be cut while executing the redevelopment projects. Meanwhile, the Environment Department has decided to grant consultancy job entitled, "Real Time Source Apportionment study for Air Pollution in Delhi" to Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, University of Washington in St. Louise, USA on nomination basis by invoking Rule 194, GFR 2017 for a total project cost of US$ 175,000 (Rs 1.20 cr approx). A fresh, comprehensive and reliable study is required to enable Delhi government to plan its actions and install a real-time pollutant source identification model in Delhi.
The project is to be completed within a period of 18 months from the date of award of the study. DPCC has been authorised to finalise detailed terms of reference for the study with mutual consultations with the Washington University team. Approval has been granted for payment to be met out from Air Ambience Fund maintained by the DPCC. DPCC will finalise the payment conditions and required clearances if payments are to be made in foreign currency to Washington University.
