NGT approves construction of DC office complex at Padil

The Chennai bench of National Green Tribunal has approved the proposal to construct a new deputy commissioner's office complex at Padil near here and has asked the Dakshina Kannada district administration to go ahead with its plan after obtaining clearance from the Forestdepartment.
The NGT had reversed its earlier orders on the proposal to build the complex at Padil.
The clearance from theForest department was required as the site fell under itsjurisdiction, DK deputy commissioner (DC) A B Ibrahim said in arelease here today.
Ibrahim said the bench had earlier ordered not to fell trees during the first phase of hearing of appeal filed against the proposal by some private individuals.

The direction was taken back on January 27 and the DC had beenasked to obtain permission from the Forest department to fellthe trees as per legal provisions and then go ahead with the plan, he added.However, the DC dismissed the contention that 477 trees wouldhave to be cut down for the construction of the complex.
Only386 trees had been identified to be removed in the proposedsite and most of them were bamboo, acacia and teak.

Of these,the Forest department would take a decision on the number oftrees to be removed.
Ibrahim further said the estimated construction cost of the complex would be Rs 41 crore.

An area of 5.89 acres including 11 acres of forest land was required for thecomplex.
The work would begin after getting clearance from the Forest department.
The proposal to shift the office was mooted in view ofthe congestion and traffic pressure experienced at its currentlocation, he said, adding that the new complex could house 38 government offices.