Buoyed by the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) putting stay on felling of trees for redevelopment of colony in South Delhi till further orders, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asserted that the people want that Centre should inform Delhi High Court that the entire project is being redesigned so that no tree is cut.
The green panel also directed the project proponents to make a categorical statement and inform it about the exact number of trees proposed to be cut for the redevelopment project for about half a dozen colonies.
“The AAP welcomes the order of the NGT to stall any tree cutting by Central Govt's NBCC redevelopment (sic),” the AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj tweeted.
He also accused the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) of not stating in the tribunal that it is “replanning” the whole project.
“HardeepSPuri, Ur Dept's Media statement and Court statement r different!! (sic),” Bhardwaj said in another tweet.
Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had on last said no trees would be cut in the process of redevelopment of seven colonies in South Delhi.
He had said that the national capital's green cover would not be damaged and steps would be taken to enhance it, while asserting that the NBCC and the CPWD - entrusted with the task of executing the redevelopment project have been asked to rework and redesign the plans to avoid tree felling.
In a statement, Bhardwaj said, “The AAP appeals to the Central government that they should officially communicate to the Forest Department, Government of Delhi, about their decision to redesign the project.”
“As the matter is coming in the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi, the people of Delhi also expect that Central government should officially state before the High Court of Delhi that they are redesigning the entire project so that no tree is felled,” he said.
The AAP has alleged that around 17,000 trees are to be cut for redevelopment of the seven colonies.