The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Centre and the Delhi government to remove all illegal religious structures in the Central Ridge area near the Birla temple within two weeks.
The Tribunal added that the Commissioner of Police should grant every police assistance to the authorities for the demolition.
A Bench headed by Justice U.D. Salvi directed the Ministry of Urban Development and the Delhi government to knock down two religious structures and a platform.
It warned that if any “laxity” is shown in executing this order, the Tribunal will hold officers concerned personally liable and will resort to coercive measures against them.
The direction came after the Ministry of Urban Development submitted that demarcation of the area where illegal structures are to be demolished has been completed and two “religious structures and a platform have been identified as encroachments”, and sought police protection for demolition.
Petition
The petition against encroachment, filed by K.C. Bhargava who resides near the temple located on Mandir Marg here, stated that constructions by a trust were in violation of a Supreme Court order prohibiting non-forest activity in the 7.5 acres of land adjacent to the Birla Temple.
Mr. Bhargava had alleged that the trust “in connivance with NDMC and other authorities had illegally constructed a road, parking, temple and other structures within the said Central Ridge area,” a charge denied by the temple authorities.
The petition had also submitted that the Ridge — the northern extension of the Aravalli Range — has been notified as a reserved forest area as per the Delhi government’s May 24, 1994 notification.
Any non-forest activity there, without the permission of competent authority, is prohibited.
It alleged that illegal constructions have been going on despite the apex court order and the May 1994 notification.
