MoEF files affidavit to National Green Tribunal, says it will put out notification
MoEF files affidavit to National Green Tribunal, says it will put out notification
The Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) in an affidavit submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stated it will come out with a notification to declare areas in radius of four kilometres of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) as eco-sensitive zone. The move comes after the MoEF received a proposal to this effect from the state forest department in compliance of the Supreme Court’s order.
The MoEF has stated, “We had received the proposal with respect to declaration of eco-sensitive zone around SGNP in November 2015. The proposal of the state government has been subsequently processed for seeking approval of the competent authority, which has since been obtained and the proposal has now been sent to Union ministry of law and justice for legal vetting.”
The affidavit further stated that as per the proposal approved by the MoEF, the eco-sensitive zone is up to four kilometres from the boundary SGNP covering the area of 6,110.6 hectares. Also, the MoEF said it is in the process of forming parameters for declaration of Aarey Colony as forest land and it may only be finalised if approved by the Supreme Court.
“After this order of Aarey Colony being declared as eco-sensitive zone there cannot be any more development in the Aarey Colony and the MMRC will have to think about alternatives which we have proposed,” said Stalin Dayanand of NGO Vanshakti, one of the many NGOs who have been protesting the MMRC’s decision to have a Metro car depot in Aarey Colony saying MMRC has selected the largest green cover of the city without considering alternatives.
“We are not against the Metro project. We have suggested a plot of 12 hectares just next to the 8 hectares plot demanded by the MMRC. It depends on the MMRC now how it has to go ahead with the project,” he said.
In October last year, an expert committee constituted by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, gave two alternatives: one, a major car depot at Kanjurmarg along with a mini car depot at Aarey Colony and the other, a full-fledged double-deck car depot at Aarey Colony which would consume less space and require fewer number of trees to be axed. However, Ashwini Bhide, managing director of MMRC, said, “The status as of today is that Aarey is still not declared as eco-sensitive zone. Also, the Metro car depot is a permitted activity even in eco-sensitive zone.”
