NHAI’ Plea Approved by Delhi Government to Cut 3000 Trees on Dwarka Expressway
Even in the past, development took place at the cost of nature. However, considering the amount of pollution Delhiites must endure, we cannot afford to fell more trees. However, recently nearly 3,000 trees were cut to facilitate the construction of Dwarka Expressway. Generally, when deforestation is done for the construction of highways, compensatory afforestation is planned earlier. However, in this case, no such thing was done!
The NGO, Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions & Promotions of National Awareness (CHETNA) has filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asserting that the Delhi Government had provided permission for chopping of 3,000 trees and transplantation of 3,500 trees without giving any thought to the fact where the compensatory afforestation will take place and whether it will be viable or not. Proper assessment of the survival rate of transplanted trees is not being done according to the plea.
NGT is seeking a report from the Forest Department regarding the permission given to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) by the Delhi Government with respect to the Dwarka Expressway Package-2. The bench comprising of Justice S.P. Wangdi is being headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel. He has sought a factual report from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) within a month regarding this issue. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for November 6, 2019. Dwarka expressway, which will improve the connectivity of Dwarka to other parts of NCR will be implemented in 5 packages and is expected to cost around 9500 crores.
