Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 29

Providing relief to the petitioner, the Council of Engineers (CoE), in the matter of Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) carving out residential plots in green belt of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar colony, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Principal Secretary of the Department of Local Government, Punjab, to examine the issue on merits and take a decision expeditiously and within two months.

Disposing of the petition, a five-member bench of the NGT sent a copy of the orders to the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, and directed the petitioner to serve copy of the orders to LIT chairman to facilitate compliance of the orders.

In the petition, the CoE had challenged LIT’s action of conversion of green belt located behind House Nos 651-E to 684-E in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar into residential plots, apprehending damage to environment.

“Proliferation of illegal colonies, coupled with unplanned commercial and industrial pockets had been persistently eating into green belts and parks in the city. Moreover, due to illegal commercial activities in the said colony, there is already an increase in air pollution, which is bound to increase manifolds with conversion of designated green belt into residential plots,” the petitioner had pleaded.

The CoE intimated the NGT that even after a legal notice was served to the respondents (LIT authorities) against such unlawful activity, the work related to laying of sewer system in the green belt had continued and the Trust authorities did not pay any heed to the concerns for environment. “The adamant attitude of LIT had forced us to file a petition for redressal of grievances,” they contented.