‘To protect Delhi’s green lungs’: Protest held in Vasant Kunj over construction in eco-sensitive area

Although not notified as a forest, the Morphological Ridge holds environmental significance as per several court rulings, which mandate Supreme Court clearance for any construction in such areas.

The project is currently at the centre of a legal dispute with a contempt petition filed in Supreme Court by environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari and an appeal registered with National Green Tribunal by the residents of Pocket B-1, Vasant Kunj.

“This protest is a culmination of a year-long fight to protect Delhi’s ridge from being privatised and being given to wrong hands. And while the case will go on, we also want to tell Delhiites that while the AQI is high, this is a good battle we fight to protect Delhi’s green lungs,” said Aby Johnson, General Secretary, RWA B-1, Vasant Kunj.

“Right now, trees are the only existing saviours for us against air pollution. All other things like clean energy or public transport will be created in the future. We should go to every extent to protect them,” Kandhari says.

Being developed by RR Texknit, the project is planned in a built-up area of 25,650 sqm, including three basements, a stilt and nine floors, with a maximum height of 33.25 metres. The plan is to build 138 dwelling units, including 74 main units, 32 for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and 32 Community Service Provider (CSP) units.

The plot being considered for the project is also disputed amongst government bodies. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have cited the land as “residential” while the Forest department maintains it is part of the Morphological Ridge, which is an extension of the geological formation called the Delhi Ridge.

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