NEW DELHI: National Green Tribunal has issued a notice to Delhi Development Authority, lieutenant governor, Central Groundwater Authority of India, and Ridge Management Board after a plea alleged that the proposed implementation of “in situ slum redevelopment and rehabilitation on public-private partnership model 2019” in Kusumpur Pahadi, which is situated in Southern Central Ridge, violated the Aravali Notification of 1992.
NGT stated that the plea raised issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and the implementation of the provisions of the scheduled enactment.
Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions and Promotion of National Awareness (SP-CHETNA) had filed an application in NGT, alleging that an area of 692 acres of land located northwest of Vasant Vihar was notified as protected forest by Delhi govt and no non-forest activity was permissible in that area.
The applicant alleged that mine labourers had settled in Kusumpur Pahadi and the area was gradually encroached upon and declared as a JJ cluster. It claimed that further development work in Kusumpur Pahadi was not permissible. According to the petition, as part of the in situ slum rehabilitation scheme, 2,800 dwelling units are to be constructed.
Referring to another report by Central Ground Water Board, the petitioner claimed that Vasant Vihar was over-exploited.
“The application also highlights that the implication of development of such magnitude will result in environmental degradation due to an increase in the population of the area and can be a threat to the ecological lifeline of south Delhi,” stated the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava in an order dated Sept 10.
The copy of the order was shared on Wednesday. The tribunal has asked the four respondents to file their response at least one week before the next hearing on Dec 13.
