LDA to challenge NGT’s order

LUCKNOW:The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has decided to challenge the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order to impose a fine of Rs 5 crore on it for felling of trees at Chak Gajaria farm on Sultanpur road for developing the CG City.

A high-powered committee of the state government, headed by chief secretary Anup Chandra Pandey, has recommended to challenge NGT’s order in Supreme Court. Chak Gajaria was a farm owned by the animal husbandry department of the UP government.

“We will challenge NGT’s order in Supreme Court. A committee headed by chief secretary has recommended to challenge the order,” said PN Singh, vicechairman, LDA. It was on November 1 that the NGT had indicted the state government.

“There has been damage to the forest without due process of law. Though LDA counsel claimed that permission was taken before felling of trees, but no data has been furnished. It is stated that 7,944 trees were felled after permission and amount of Rs 96 lakh was deposited towards the cost of trees, but this does not cover illegally felled trees,” the NGT said in its order on November 1, 2018.

“The state should also take appropriate action against persons responsible for illegal felling of trees. Such steps may be completed within three months,” the NGT order had stated. The NGT had ordered the UP government that compensation of Rs 5 crore should be paid to the Central Pollution Control Board towards loss of the ecological services forever. The NGT also ordered that the money be used as part of the Environment Restitution Fund.

The LDA and around 12 private developers have acquired more than 10,500 acres of land on NH-56 (Lucknow-Sultanpur road) for developing high-tech township.

Now, the township has come up on around a 10-km stretch of the road, starting from Arjunganj to Gosainganj. The LDA’s 850acre Chak Gajaria township and 50-acre Shan-e-Awadh are also among the 12 major townships coming up on the stretch.

The LDA, however, had sold its Shan-e-Awadh project to a private developer last year. LDA’s high-tech city on Sultanpur road is slated to change the development pace of Lucknow.