Illegal construction by Birla Temple, NGT seeks Centre's reply

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today sought responses of the Centre and Delhi government on a plea for demolition of alleged illegal constructions in the Central Ridge area by the trust managing the Birla Temple.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Ministry of Urban Development, Delhi government, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), city Police Commissioner and Sanatan Dharam Sabha Laxmi Narayan Temple Trust, which manages the Birla Temple, seeking their replies by October 3.
The order came on the petition filed by K C Bhargava, who resides near the temple located on Mandir Marg here, stating the constructions by the trust are in violation of a Supreme Court order prohibiting non-forest activity in the 7.5 acres of land adjacent to the shrine.

In the petition filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, Bhargava alleged that the trust "in connivance with NDMC and other authorities has illegally constructed a road, parking, temple and other constructions within the said Central Ridge area".
The petition also submitted that the Ridge- the northern extension of the ancient Aravalli Range- has been notified as a reserved forest area as per Delhi government's May 24, 1994, notification by which any non-forest activity there, without permission of competent authority, is prohibited.
Bhargava alleged that the illegal constructions have been going on despite the apex court order and the May 1994 notification.

The petition stated that the NDMC, in response to an RTI application filed by Bhargava, admitted that an illegal road measuring around 113.5 metres has been constructed at a cost of about Rs 2.97 lakh.
Apart from demolition of all the illegal constructions by the temple trust, Bhargava also sought initiation of criminal proceedings against it.