Trilokpuri residents move NGT against DMRC
group of Trilokpuri residents have moved the National Green Tribunal seeking a restraint order on the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) use of green areas for rehabilitation, saying it would adversely affect the environment and ecology of the area.
The 59-km corridor of DMRC’s pink line (Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar) corridor passing through East Delhi’s Trilokpuri area, located between Mayur Vihar Phase-I and Vinod Nagar, needs relocation of 156 plots housing over 1,000 residents of block 15 of Trilokpuri colony.
The project has already been delayed for over a year as negotiation between residents and Metro officials have resulted in a stalemate.
The DMRC has proposed to construct new houses for the residents on an alternative plot, which belongs to Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, the plea said.
Referring to an NGT order dated February 17, the residents of block 16, 17 and 18 have contended that the tribunal had directed Delhi Metro not to use the green area (DUSIB plot) for residential purpose.
However, the DMRC carrying on the construction over this land in question and using it for residential purpose, the plea has claimed while asking for a fine on the Delhi Metro for violation of order.
“Aggrieved by the action of DMRC for carrying on the construction over the said land in question and using the same for residential purpose, the counsel for the applicants sent a legal notice to the DMRC chairman, his counsel and chairman of Delhi Development Authority asking them to stop construction on land in question for residential purpose.
“However, no authority except the counsel for the DMRC sent a reply to the counsel for the applicants stating that the order of NGT is strictly being complied with by the DMRC. It is submitted that the reply sent by the counsel for the DMRC was not true since there was continuous disregard to the NGT order which is proved by the photographs annexed,” the plea, filed through advocates Rahul Khurana and Pawan Reley, said.
The petition says that they also filed a police complaint against the DMRC for non-compliance of the order but no action has been taken by the authorities till date.
The green court had earlier noted that the Delhi Development Authority has clearly admitted that the plot in question was a green area as per its zonal plan and it cannot be used for residential purpose.
“However, if the land use is permitted to be changed, the parties would be at liberty to act in accordance with law,” the NGT had said.