New projects in developed areas on Delhi's morphological ridge may not need NOC

NEW DELHI:  The Centre has requested the Delhi government to consider doing away with the need to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for projects in already developed areas on the morphological ridge such as Greater Kailash and Nehru Place, officials have said.

The Ridge Management Board (RMB), a high-powered body formed on the directions of the Supreme Court in 1995 to protect the ridge, will discuss the proposal during a meeting slated for Friday, they said.

Morphological ridge is that part of the ridge area “which has ridge-like features but is not part of notified forests”. It forms a part of the extension of the Aravallis.

Permission of the RMB, headed by the Delhi chief secretary, or of the Supreme Court through the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is required to carry out any construction on the morphological ridge.

“Earlier, agencies needed a NOC from the board before undertaking any new construction project or expansion of existing structures in already developed morphological ridge areas such as Greater Kailash and Nehru Place.

"The Centre has asked the Delhi government to consider doing away with the need for it,” an official. Even if there were no trees, the board’s permission was required before undertaking any construction work in such developed areas which are part of the morphological ridge, the official said.

However, if the agencies intend to cut down trees, they will have to seek permission under the Forest Conservation Act and the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act. Meanwhile, two RMB members and environment experts, Sunita Narain and Vimlendu Jha, have refused to attend the meet “as the board has not been reconstituted for over a year”, another official said.