By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: State-owned construction firm NBCC (India) Limited on Monday defended the redevelopment project it has undertaken in seven South Delhi colonies, involving cutting of more than 16,000 trees, stating that it was planting more trees in compensation.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court put a stay on felling of trees till the next hearing on July 4.
“While redeveloping the colonies, special care and attention is being given towards retaining maximum number of existing trees and incorporating them in a large cluster as an integral part of landscaping design scheme,” said Anoop Kumar Mittal CMD, NBCC.
“Utmost care is being taken to protect the environment while redeveloping General Pool Residential Accommodation colonies in the national capital to utilise existing land resources in the most efficient manner and meet the growing demand for built-up space,” Mittal said.
The Delhi High Court made strong observations against such large-scale felling of trees, asking NBCC, “Can Delhi afford to cut trees for the development of roads and buildings?” The firm agreed not to cut any trees until the next hearing.
Environmental activists have said that the compensatory plantation will not serve any purpose if it is done far away from where the trees are felled.
Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said a wrong impression was being created that he had ignored Delhi environment minister Imran Hussain’s objections over the felling of trees. “The proposal of felling of trees was fully endorsed by the minister,” he said.
