Residents of lajpat Nagar here have moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the operation of a parking lot by Delhi Urban Shelter Board (DUSIB) in front of Kasturba Niketan Complex, prompting the green panel to seek the response of the city Government on the matter.
A Bench, headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, issued notice to the Delhi Government and DUSIB seeking reply by May 25, the next date of hearing. DUSIB is managing the parking, which can accommodate nearly 550 cars in the area, after the tribunal had asked it to arrange a temporary parking space to decongest roads in order to reduce vehicular emission.
South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is yet to identify a land for building a multi-level parking facility in lajpat Nagar area. In its plea, Kasturba Niketan Complex Social Welfare Association sought directions to restrain the city Government and DUSIB from allowing the use of land for parking.
The plea also sought direction to immediately construct reinforced cement concrete (RCC) flooring in the entire dust-laden land situated in front of Kasturba Niketan Complex, lajpat Nagar-II.
The plea, filed through advocate DK Sharma, said that the distance between the houses of Kasturba Niketan Complex and parking land is hardly 10 feet and even a slight movement of vehicles cause dust storms. “Due to the continuous movement of vehicles, there is layer of dust deposited on the outer walls of the houses, which also enters inside the houses causing air pollution,” the plea said.
It submitted that there are 273 houses in Kasturba Niketan Complex in which more than 4,000 people live and their “lives are in danger as they are forced to inhale dust-laden air”. The association also stated that air pollution is causing health hazard not only to children but the old people as well, including people suffering from asthma, heart problems etc as they find difficult to breathe in the polluted air.
It alleged that a DUSIB official had visited the site and assured the residents that RCC flooring would be constructed before starting the parking lot in the said land but till date no action has been taken.