Stretch along MehrauliBadarpur highway not green belt, DDA tells NGT

NEW DELHI : The stretch along the Mehrauli-Badarpur Highway in Saket is not part of the ‘green belt;’ at least not according to the Delhi Development Authority.

The DDA made the submission to the National Green Tribunal, when the green court was hearing a plea filed by Tripta Sood and Vivek Pande, who had asked the NGT to issue directions to protect the approximately 1.5 km long and 13 m wide ‘green belt’ that runs along the Mehrauli-Badarpur highway in Saket.

They had sought directions to stop tree felling and encroachment in the area and to maintain the status quo by disallowing any change in land use.

“The issue raised in this case is as to whether the area in question is a green belt. The counsel appearing for the DDA submits that the area is not within the green belt and reply in this regard has been filed,” said the bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim.

The petitioners however, disagreed with the submissions and said the stretch had over 1,500 trees which acted as a “green buffer” that filters out air pollutants and reduces the noise pollution from the highway, from reaching the residential areas of Gurudwara road.

Last year, the NGT had asked the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to draft and finalise an action plan to protect the trees of the alleged ‘green belt’ from commercial activities. They had also prohibited the felling of trees in the area, earlier when residents had moved the court pleading increased encroachment.

The court will hear the matter on April 18.