NGT asks HUDA, DLF to not cut trees in Gurgaon

 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and real estate major DLF to give an undertaking that they will not cut trees in sectors 55-56 of Gurgaon without permission of the competent authority.

A vacation bench of NGT headed by justice P Jyothimani has granted time till 6 June to the agency and the real estate major to file their undertakings.

‘We direct that this matter to be listed on 6 June, 2013, so as to enable the respondents (HUDA and DLF) to file an affidavit giving undertaking not to cut the trees in the disputed site pending disposal of the application except with specific approval of the competent authority,’ the bench said. The tribunal also directed the Haryana Pollution Control Board (HPCB) to ‘file an appropriate affidavit as to whether the project requires environment clearance’ by the next date. The directions came on a plea of the residents of a nearby housing society,  who challenged the permission given to HUDA by the district forest department to cut the trees.