To prevent illegal construction by builders and contractors in the 10 kilometre radius of Okhla Bird Sanctuary, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh, National Board for Wildlife and CEO Noida Authority and others.
The notices were issued in response to a petition filed by a Noida-based environmentalist — Amit Kumar, who demand that the 10 km area around Okhla bird sanctuary (located on Delhi-Noida border near Okhla Barrage) is an eco-sensitive zone.
“NGT on Wednesday admitted the petition and issued notices to all officials concerned including UP Chief Secretary Javed Usmani and Noida CEO Rama Raman. All these officials will have to put forth their stand before tribunal in next hearing which is scheduled on July 19,” said Gaurav Kumar Bansal, advocate of the petitioner.
A senior official of forest department said that the realty projects — group housing and mixed-land use of total 54 developers are located within 10 km radius. “We had already issued notices to these builders directing them to seek all necessary environmental clearances before starting construction. I do not know if they have those clearances or not with them. Now they will tell it to court,” added the official.
Uttar Pradesh wildlife officers under pressure from strong builders’ lobby had been unable to declare eco-sensitive zone within 10 kilometers radius of Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is spread on four square kilometers of area in Noida, he said.
Ministry of environment and forest (MOEF) on March 15, 2011 had directed States to declare eco-sensitive zones around national parks, and wild life bird sanctuaries. Some states followed the directive but many including UP did not do the needful. After MOEF direction, state wild life department formed a nine member team headed by Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate. But nothing happened so far.