Residential project near Ridge area: NGT seeks Centre's reply

The National Green Tribunal today sought a response of the Centre and Delhi government on a plea questioning whether 250 acres of forest land in Ghitorni in South West Delhi and adjoining the Ridge area can be used for development of residential and commercial projects having around 10,000 housing units.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued a notice to Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Central Public Work Department (CPWD), National Building Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCCL), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), seeking their responses by October 28.
The order came on the application filed by senior advocate Raj Panjwani who is assisting the Tribunal as amicus curiae in relation to non-forest activity going on in the Aravalli range of Delhi and Haryana.

Panjwani has contended the area in question is right next to the Rajokari Ridge area and has all the characteristics of the Aravallis.
He has said in the application that keeping in view the prevailing air pollution, depleting ground water resources, lack of sewage disposal facilities, electricity requirement and other civic amenities in Delhi, the project of CPWD and NBCCL "may not be sustainably feasible".
Panjwani had also contended in his application that "ecological importance of the area in issue is similar to that of the notified southern ridge vis-a-vis air pollution, water recharge and climate.
Further, he said the land could be preserved to off-set the area of the Ridge that has been diverted legally or otherwise."

He has also alleged in his application that as per new reports "over 25 per cent of the notified Ridge area has been diverted or illegally encroached upon".