AAP welcomes NGT stay on tree felling in south Delhi

Welcoming the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order staying felling of trees for colony redevelopment in south Delhi till further orders, the AAP said the people "expect" the Centre to inform the High Court that the entire project is being redesigned so that no tree is cut.

The green panel also directed the project proponents to make a categorical statement and inform it about the exact number of trees proposed to be cut for the redevelopment project for about half a dozen colonies.

"AAP welcomes the order of Hon'ble NGT to stall any tree cutting by Central Govt's NBCC redevelopment (sic)," the party's spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj tweeted.

He also accused the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) of not stating in the tribunal that it is "replanning" the whole project.

"HardeepSPuri sir, Ur Dept's Media statement and Court statement r different!! (sic)," Bhardwaj said in another tweet.

Union Urban Affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri had on last said that no trees would be cut in the process of redevelopment of seven colonies in South Delhi.

He had said that the national capital's green cover would not be damaged and steps would be taken to enhance it, while asserting that the NBCC and the CPWD - entrusted with the task of executing the redevelopment project have been asked to rework and redesign the plans to avoid tree felling.

In a statement, Bhardwaj said, "The AAP appeals to the Central government that they should officially communicate to the Forest Department, Government of Delhi, about their decision to redesign the project."