NGT to ascertain concretisation of ‘green belts’

The petitioner had earlier written to CM Akhilesh Yadav urging him to take action against erring civic agencies and check rampant concretisation

Miffed at the apathy of the Ghaziabad civic agencies towards growing concretisation of pavements and areas which are otherwise marked as ‘green belt’, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was on Monday “compelled” to find the ground reality itself.

The NGT Bench headed by its chairperson Swatanter Kumar appointed a local commissioner to visit places in Ghaziabad and see if a particular area is green belt or tiled and whether they have been proposed to be concretised with sand and cement. The Local Commissioner would submit its report before the Tribunal by November 14.

The Tribunal noted that that Ghaziabad Development Authority and the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam stood in clear violation of its February 20 order in which it had clearly observed that the tiling/ concretisation of pavements should not exceed more than five per cent and the footpath and tracks should be constructed only with permeable and semi-permeable perforated blocks.

Petitioner and environment activist Akash Vashishtha presented photographs before the Tribunal on Monday which belied the claim of the Ghaziabad Development Authority that there was no concretisation of open spaces. The GDA also submitted that it was for the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam to maintain the entire Ghaziabad area and to ensure that there is greenery in terms of the notification in this regard.

Mr. Vashishtha and his counsel Ritwick Dutta presented before the Tribunal photographs showing walking paths being concretised. The green areas were also shown as being concretised in excess of the prescribed limit. “...we are compelled to find out the ground reality and for this purpose we appoint Ms. Guneet Khehar as Local Commissioner who shall visit Ghaziabad and places which will be pointed out by the Applicant (Akash Vashishtha) and would report to the Tribunal if the pointed areas are green belt or are tiled areas and perforated blocks have been used or not and which part is or is proposed to be concretised,” the Tribunal ordered.

It also directed the Station House Officer of Navyug Market to provide all required assistance to Ms. Khehar and to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to her.

Mr. Vashishtha had earlier also written to UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav urging him to take necessary action against erring civic agencies and check rampant concretisation.