Greens step up stir against flyover at Atul Kataria Chowk

GURUGRAM: Environmental activists sent a legal notice to public works department (PWD), National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and MCG, demanding removal of heavy machinery and barricades placed in green belts at Atul Kataria Chowk as the authorities have not received permission from the ministry of environment & forests and climate change (MoEF &CC) to fell trees in these protected areas.

In the legal notice, activists alleged that the contractor — hired for the road expansion —placed heavy machinery, causing damage to the green belts on both sides of the road. “We understand that you sought MOEF &CC’s permission to cut nearly 1,500 fully grown trees, but it’s still pending. Unfortunately, in absence of permission, the contractor has gone ahead and placed heavy machinery, causing much damage to the environment, and has already set up cabins in the forest area which is patently illegal…” stated the notice, adding that the authorities should act swiftly to get the complete area vacated.

According to Anil Sood of Chetna Group, a Delhi-based NGO, the road doesn’t require an underpass and a flyover as it’s already an eight-lane stretch. “How can the authorities start the construction without the environment ministry’s permission?” he asked.

Responding to TOI query, sources in NHAI, PWD and MCG, however, said they had not received the legal notice so far. Many residents alleged that the entry of public to the green belts had been restricted. Anindita, a resident of Sector 109, said, “When a few volunteers visited the area, they were denied entry to the green belts. Heavy machinery has already been kept in the area to start construction, and barricades have been installed to restrict entry. How can the contractor do so as they still don’t have permit?”

While residents claimed that more than 1,700 trees would have to be felled for the project, the forest department officials said PWD had sought permission to cut at least 700 trees in the notified forest area.