UP told to add pillars to Ghaziabad bridge

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Wednesday ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to construct more pillars on the approach road to the third Hindon river bridge being built near the Hindon Air Force station in Ghaziabad.

National Green Tribunal Chairman Justice Swatantra Kumar passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by environmentalist Vikrant Sharma following refusal of the construction company to stop the construction of the bridge over environmental concerns.

The tribunal in its order said the technical expert present on behalf of the respondent admitted that the approach road to the bridge was being constructed in the highest flood level zone.

"It is bound to obstruct the natural flow of the river. The solution is that additional pillars on either side of the bridge be constructed," the order said.

Earlier the environmentalists had pleaded that the construction of the bridge would pose a serious ecological threats in preserving biodiversity of the city by mud filling in the river bed and endangering the strategically located Hindon Air Force station due to diversion of the water stream of the river.