NGT gives nod to road widening project in Gurgaon

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given its nod to road widening project for construction of 16-lane DLF-HUDA expressway in Gurgaon, which was embroiled in controversy over cutting of trees.
The 16-lane expressway is 8.3 km long signal free corridor connecting NH-8 toll plaza to the Golf Course Road and is to come up in sector 55-56 of Gurgaon.
A bench of NGT headed by Justice P Jyothimani in a recent order held that widening of road project does not adversely affect the residents of nearby areas.
"Recognising the need of the project in question which will serve the larger public interest by way of resulting in smooth flow of traffic, we are of the opinion that project in question may be allowed subject to the environmental safeguard which would keep the likely adverse impacts to the bare minimum," the tribunal said.

The tribunal's order came on a plea by residents of the National Media Centre (NMC), a housing society located in sector 55-56, who had challenged cutting of trees by HUDA, DLF and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS).
Noting that the road widening project would help in smooth flow of traffic, the NGT said the land in question does not fall within the ambit of the forest land as per provisions of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 as informed by the State Government to the Supreme Court.
The tribunal also noted that efforts were being made to plant 10 trees for every tree cut as per the permission obtained from Forest Department and now only 26 trees would be cut near the NMC on the land which belongs to the government.

"Keeping in view the public interest rather than the interests of handful of persons or group of persons... The project may be allowed subject to the environmental safeguard," the bench said.