Green court lifts suspension order on waste treatment plant at Basai
GURGAON: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday lifted the suspension order on the construction and demolition (C&D) plant at Basai.
The green court observed that Basai has not be notified as a ‘wetland’ and thus the C&D waste treatment plant work can be resumed. Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) officials said they will start work immediately.
The next hearing on this case is on February 28.
The construction work of the C&D waste treatment plant was suspended after NGO Delhi Bird Foundation filed a plea in NGT in June last year stating that the wetland attracts a large number of migratory birds every year and is under threat because of the C&D plant.
Following the petition, the court suspended its work in July.
Though the court lifted the suspension order, bird enthusiasts claimed that the C&D plant does not have the valid authorisation to function yet.
“The plant does not have clearances as per the C&D rules, thus the work at the site cannot resume now. They need to get environmental clearance to start the plant,” said Anita Mani, who is with the Delhi Bird Foundation.
Another bird enthusiast, Pankaj Gupta said, “We have already written to the state wetland authority to notify Basai as a wetland and we are hopeful about it.
Basai attracts 280 species of migratory and residents birds to the site every year and is an important birding area, said the bird enthusiasts as they claimed that the government should take steps to protect the ‘green lung’.
MCG officials, however, said that they will resume work on Thursday.
Sudhir Chauhan, senior town planner (STP) of MCG said, “Finally we have got permission from NGT to start the suspended work and we do not want to waste any more time. Already the project has been delayed for more than six months.
“The city produces more than 600 tonnes of construction waste which is being dumped across the city which causes air pollution. Thus, we will start work by Thursday. We have all legal documents with us for the project,” said