Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said that his ministry had not given permission for the controversial NBCC (India) Limited project that involves the felling of nearly 14,000 trees in several south Delhi colonies.
“The government of NCT of Delhi has neither taken any permission, nor does it need to take any such permission from the Union Ministry of Environment… all such tree felling is carried out with the approval of concerned authorities of the Delhi government and permissions have been given as per Delhi Preservation of Tree Act, 1994, which is a State Act,” he said in a statement.
In the wake of protests by citizens, the AAP government and the Union Environment Ministry are accusing other each of clearing the project. The environment clearance process, however, is designed in such a way that approvals are required from the Delhi government and the Centre for the project.
The project in question comprises six redevelopment projects in Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Thyagaraj Nagar, Mohammedpur, and Kasturba Nagar. It is a ₹32,835-crore exercise, spanning 6,62,000 square metres.
It involves developing government accommodation as well as developing commercial properties. It was to be constructed over five years and for it to proceed, requires a clearance by the Union Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
Ministry’s letter to NBCC
As documents show, the EAC cleared the projects at Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Thyagaraj Nagar and Sarojini Nagar — the last of which involves felling of 11,000 trees — over several meetings between September 2017 and April 2018.
On the recommendation of the EAC, the Union Environment Ministry said in a letter to NBCC on June 12: “The MoEFCC accords environmental clearance to the project redevelopment… Sarojini Nagar… subject to necessary conditions.”
While there is no mention of trees being felled, it said that “a minimum of 1 tree for 80 square metres of land had to be planted” and it seconded the National Green Tribunal’s directive that “10 trees be planted” for each one cut and that 3,50,000 square metres of the land be set aside for green development.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan also alluded to the EAC in his statement. “The said environmental clearance is also subject to various statutory approvals of the State government, including permission under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994,” he noted.
The NGT got involved after legal challenges to the redevelopment project last year.
The NBCC, on Monday assured the Delhi High Court that no trees would be cut for the project till July 4.