Plea in NGT against Tank Road encroachments

A plea alleging encroachment by shops resulting in traffic jams at a clothes hub on Tank Road here has been filed in the National Green Tribunal.
The petition, which is likely to come up before a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, claimed that a number of unauthorised shops were running on Tank Road without permission from the authorities concerned.
The plea filed by local resident Kunal has alleged that several plots, belonging to the Delhi Development Authority, have been encroached through illegal construction of shops and digging of illegal basement in connivance with various authorities.
The petition, filed through advocate Ranjan Khatumaria, claimed that many shopkeepers have constructed a number of iron gates at various entrance points in the market without permission.

"The construction of these gates is reducing the width of the road resulting in massive traffic jams in an area which is already reeling under the pressure of heavy vehicular congestion," it said.
It has sought directions to the authority to monitor the air and noise pollution in the area and ensure strict action against all the illegal activities in the area.
A number of complaints and representations were made before the authorities but till date no action has been taken which has led the petitioner to approach the NGT, the plea claimed.