Issuing warrants to the Urban Development Ministry, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday restrained Ghaziabad civic agencies from concretising parks.
The National Green Tribunal, on Monday, issued bailable warrants to the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation for failing to appear in a case pertaining to mindless concretisation of green and soiled ground surfaces across the country. The court, while hearing a petition of Akash Vashishtha, an environment conservationist, issued bailable warrants of Rs 10,000 against the “Competent Officer” who failed to appear before the court on Monday, on notices issued by it on August 5. The court has directed execution of the warrants by September 27.
The green court also restrained Government authorities and agencies in Ghaziabad from violating the guidelines issued by the State Chief Secretary in April 2001 on restriction of the use of concrete and construction inside parks beyond 5 per cent of the total area. The petition raised threats posed by mindless concretisation happening across all cities and towns of the country by Government agencies, without a regard to their ecological consequences.
The petition highlights how concretisation on roadsides and open spaces was preventing groundwater recharge and wastage of rainwater by up to 90 per cent, leading to an imbalance of a region’s hydrological cycle. The petition also states that “mindlesss concretisation in cities and towns was raising local temperatures significantly”.
“We had noted a difference of 6 degrees in the temperature recorded in a concretised area to that of a dry grassy land. This has led to the formation of urban heat islands in cities. The study is being conducted in detail,” said Akash Vashishtha, petitioner and coordinator of the Hindustan Environment Action Group (HEAG).
Counsel for the petitioner Pushpinder Sodhi said, “Many facts and evidences are yet to be placed before court. The Ministry of Urban Development has guidelines for greening of landscapes and open spaces for Delhi only, whereas it needs to be extended to all parts of the country. We would seek directions from the Hon’ble Court on this matter.”