Finalise action plan to save trees: NGT

Amid continuous threat to green belt from increasing commercial activities, the National Green Tribunal has directed South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to finalise an action plan on preservation of trees in the stretch located along Mehrauli-Badarpur Highway in the city’s Saket area.

“The DC of South Zone (SDMC) is directed to convene a meeting to prepare an action plan in consultation with the Residents Welfare Association concerned as well as the applicants and finalise action plan for maintenance of existing trees and planting of fresh trees and submit a report before the tribunal within four weeks,” a bench headed by Justice M.S. Nambiar said.

The green panel also directed the petitioners in the case to furnish the list of the details of Residents Welfare Association in the area to SDMC within three days to enable them to convene the meeting.

The directions came while hearing a plea of Tripta Sood and Vivek Pande who had sought directions to maintain status quo to protect the green belt, which is about 1.5-km-long and 13-m-wide, along the Mehrauli-Badarpur Highway in Saket from any change in land use and stoppage of tree felling and encroachment.

The matter is listed for next hearing on May 30.

The tribunal had last year prohibited tree felling in the stretch after the two Saket residents moved NGT against increasing encroachment in the area.