Ludhiana, July 7

Taking umbrage at the proposal of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) to carve out residential plots in designated green belt in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, the Council of Engineers (CoE) has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking its immediate intervention. The State of Punjab through the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Local Government and the Chairman of LIT have been made respondents in the case.

Kapil Arora, president of the CoE, who is the petitioner, made the submission that the LIT had chalked out a plan to carve out 33 residential plots of 200 square yards each in designated green belt situated behind House Nos 651-E to 684-E in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar while citing some landmark judgments of the Supreme Court as well as the NGT made in similar type of cases.

Explaining the present case the petitioner said even though the CoE had already served a legal notice to the chief secretary for action plan of clear air in Punjab in pursuant to directions issued by the NGT but still the LIT seemed to be going ahead with its plan which was evident from bricks and building material dumped at the site of green belt for construction work which indicated that the LIT chairman had scant regard for directions of both the Supreme Court and the NGT.

Arora contended, “Conversion of designated green belts into residential plots is like encroachment over the land left for its prime motive. In similar instances, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has even quashed the amendment in Master Plan changing use of area in question from green belt to residential one quoting that the purpose shall never be changed in any other manner whatsoever. ”

The petition has pointed out that the colony was developed by the LIT in mid-1970s and with increase in the number of plots in the locality, air pollution had assumed alarming proportions. With increasing commercial activity coupled with conversion of designated green belt into residential plots, the land area under green belt would decrease and quality of air would deteriorate further. As many as 54 trees had already been axed by the LIT.

The petitioner has prayed to the NGT to restrain the LIT and also issue directions to the chief secretary and other respondents for restitution of said designated green belt along with plantation of saplings 20 times the trees axed in the area. — OC