Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai)

NGT dismisses citizen group’s plea

- HT Correspond­ent

MUMBAI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday dismissed the interventi­on applicatio­n filed by a citizens’ group, supporting constructi­on of Metro depot at Aarey Colony.

According to sources, the NGT bench rejected the applicatio­n, saying the group did not have locus standi on the matter. However, a member of the group, Michael Pereira, claimed the NGT had given it an opportunin­ext hearing, even though the petition was dismissed. “We will be given 15 minutes to present our side,” Pereira said. The NGT has also asked the Ministry of Environmen­t and Forest (MOEF) to file its affidavit on the issue by January 8.

Lately, the tribunal had issued a bailable warrant against the regional secretary of MOEF Bhopal for delays in filing its affidavit in the matter.

Acting on the petition filed by NGO Vanashakti, NGT had, in August this year, passed an tion activities at Aarey Colony.

D Stalin of NGO Vanashakti said, “The tribunal wanted to know the ministry’s view on declaring Aarey Colony an economic sensitive zone (ESZ) or a forest. However, the ministry delayed it. Now, it has to file its affidavit in this matter by January 8.”

Following reports of cutting down of 2,298 trees at Aarey Colony for the constructi­on of a car depot for the Colaba-bandraseep­z (CBS) Metro 3 project, local residents and environopp­osition to the depot saying it would lead to the destructio­n of greenery and wildlife. Environmen­talists demanded there should not be any kind of constructi­on activities in the colony, and, subsequent­ly, Vanashakti filed a petition in the NGT about declaring the colony an ESZ as it falls in the radius of 4km of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

There will be restrictio­ns on developmen­t activities once it is declared an ESZ. Many environmen­talists have demanded that

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