Elevated road project: NGT seeks details of reforestation plan

The National Green Tribunal today directed Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Chief Conservator of Forests to give details of where they propose to carry out compensatory reforestation in lieu of trees that will be cut during construction of elevated road from Vikaspuri to Mukarba chowk.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed the authorities to state that the land where such reforestation would be carried out would remain as forest area.
"We direct the Chief Conservator of Forests to file a specific affidavit stating the areas in the vicinity of Meerabagh to Vikaspuri where compensatory reforestation is proposed to be carried out and that they would remain forest area and would cover the entire reforestation proposed under this project," the bench said.

DDA was directed to file an affidavit, as ordered on November 13, when it was asked to assure the tribunal "that the area for which no objection certificate has been issued for reforestation would continue to be used for the same purpose in future so that the compulsory reforestation directed under the order of the forest department would not be frustrated".
The bench observed that DDA had not filed the affidavit and ordered it to file the same within a week and listed the matter for further arguments on December 10.
The tribunal was hearing a plea by P C Prasad who has challenged the clearance granted to the elevated road project to cut over 1,400 trees in the entire Vikas Puri-Mukarba Chowk stretch of the Outer Ring Road.