Green Panel Clears 3 Housing Projects In South Delhi

A government-appointed expert panel has cleared the decks for the redevelopment of three housing projects in south Delhi work on which was stuck owing to tree felling issues.  The expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC) has cleared the revised housing projects in Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Kasturba Nagar colonies.

According to the revised plans of these colonies, trees will be translocated/ transplanted instead of being felled.

In Sarojini Nagar, out of 11,913 trees, 3,500 trees will be translocated and the remaining will be retained at the project site. In Netaji Nagar, of the 3,906 proposed trees to be felled, 1,600 are to be translocated and the remaining will be retained. In Kasturba Nagar, 405 will be translocated, and 798 will be retained.

The EAC noted that due to petitions in the Delhi High Court and the NGT against redevelopment of seven GPRA (General Pool Residential Accommodation) colonies over felling of trees, including the three colonies which have now been cleared, there was a status quo on these projects since July 2018.

"During deliberations, the EAC noted that as per the environmental clearance granted vide dated June 12, 2018, initial activities were taken up but due to writ petitions /PIL filed in the Delhi High Court and National Green Tribunal against felling of trees, the high court had ordered to maintain status quo in redevelopment of all seven GPRA Colonies including Sarojini Nagar on July 2, 2018 and July 26, 2018," the EAC's minutes of meeting said.

Environment activists, however, said that redevelopment was necessary but translocation was a risky approach.

"Redevelopment is needed in Delhi. Translocation is a good move but it has to be carried out cautiously as most of the times it is not successful," said Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Chandra Bhushan.

He added that while granting clearance for such projects, number of trees to be cut should be reduced and planting of more number of trees must be ensured.

With inputs from Housing News