NGT rejects green activists’ plea, work to begin soon at eco-park

  • | Monday | 19th November, 2018

As per the plea, the Noida Authority was felling trees at the site of the biodiversity park in Sector 91. The eucalyptus trees which were cut were mature and were supposed to be cut 15 years ago. The tribunal, however, noted that they did not find any illegal felling in the park. The forest department does not have any further involvement,” said the DFO, Gautam Budh Nagar, AK Srivastav. This apart, one lakh shrubs were to be planted in the area.“Now with the clearance from the National Green Tibunal, it is the responsibility of the Noida Authority to complete the plantation work.

NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) has rejected the plea submitted by an environmental organisation against felling of nearly 3,000 eucalyptus trees at the proposed eco-park in Sector 91, Noida.The pending work in the park is now expected to resume, said sources.According to sources, the principal bench of NGT, headed by Justice A K Goel, and comprising Justice S P Wangdi and expert member Nagin Nanda, decided against passing any order on the application of an environmental organisation as the bench was satisfied with the response of the Noida Authority that a large number of fruit bearing trees would be planted in the park.The tribunal was approached by Social Action for Forest and Environment, headed by Greater Noida-based environmentalist Vikrant Tongad. As per the plea, the Noida Authority was felling trees at the site of the biodiversity park in Sector 91. The tribunal then issued a stay order against tree felling in the park.According to sources, nearly 3,000 mature eucalyptus trees were supposed to be cut at the park for the purpose of creating space for re-plantation of fruit bearing trees.The environmentalists had stated that the cutting of trees in such large numbers could affect the ecology of the area as it had animal habitation as well. The tribunal, however, noted that they did not find any illegal felling in the park. The eucalyptus trees which were cut were mature and were supposed to be cut 15 years ago. Two neem trees were wrongly felled by the tree cutters in the process.The initial argument of the protesters was that the biodiversity park was set up in an area earmarked as city forest in the Noida Master Plan of 2021. The land use of the area was changed from forest to recreational park in Master Plan 2031.A detailed report on the exact count of trees and shrubs that were to be planted at the 75-acre ecopark was submitted by the forest department with NGT in September.Among the saplings proposed to be planted at the park were 5,000 plants of regional variety which grow fruits and offer shade like mango, jamun, tamarind and pilkhan. Besides, 500 neem saplings were to be planted additionally. This apart, one lakh shrubs were to be planted in the area.“Now with the clearance from the National Green Tibunal, it is the responsibility of the Noida Authority to complete the plantation work. The forest department does not have any further involvement,” said the DFO, Gautam Budh Nagar, AK Srivastav.

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