A year after stalling work which was part of the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) around KBR National Park, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday threw the ball in the Centre’s court.
Local activists and residents approached the NGT last year demanding the scrapping of the project to prevent axing of hundreds of trees and acquisition of the park walkway.
The Tribunal said the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has to take an appropriate decision, including on the issue of publishing a revised draft notification pertaining to Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the State government.
The State government had proposed to the MoEF to decrease the ESZ of the KBR park from the existing 25-35 mts to zero mts.
The Chennai bench of the Tribunal said “the project proponents in our considerate view and in all fairness shall wait till a final decision is taken in this regard by MoEF & CC and then proceed.”
After the NGT order, the State government can proceed with cutting or translocating the trees only after obtaining permission from the Union Ministry.
Meanwhile, the activists are gearing up to submit their objections to the MoEF within 50 days after the draft notification is published.
“We will definitely file an objection with logical arguments to every point that the State has given as reasons to reduce or destroy the walkway. If truth and correct legal procedure are required to stop this destruction, then we are confident of sailing through this. However, if misuse of power and other manipulations step in, then we will put up a tough fight,” said Shilpa Sivakumar of Hyderabad Rising.
The activists also plan to intensify their protest and create awareness among public regarding their demands through campaigns.
