NGT takes cognisance of Indian Express report, seeks replies from BMC CPCB and MPCB
The panel granted three-week time to CPCB, MPCB and BMC Commissioner to file their responses and also issued notice to other respondents seeking their replies in the matter
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The NGT noted that the report relates to the 'fast depleting urban green cover in Mumbai' stating that trees were felled largely to make way for development projects including Metro, Bullet Train, coastal road, Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Goregaon-Mulund link road among others. (File Photo)Observing that it ‘raises substantial issue of compliance of environmental norms,’ the National Green Tribunal recently took a suo motu cognisance of The Indian Express investigation report titled ‘Mumbai lost over 21,000 trees in 6 years to make way for Metro, road projects’ published last month.
The panel issued notices to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MPCB) through their respective member secretaries, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (HoFF), Maharashtra, Commissioner of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai district collector and added them as respondents in the plea.
A quorum of Justices Prakash Shrivastava (chairperson), Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial member) and Afroz Ahmad- expert member in an order passed on April 16 referred to a report published on March 26 in the Indian Express, which, stated that Mumbai has witnessed felling of at least 21,028 trees over the past six years, according to data provided by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to The Indian Express under the RTI Act.
The NGT noted that the report relates to the ‘fast depleting urban green cover in Mumbai’ stating that trees were felled largely to make way for development projects including Metro, Bullet Train, coastal road, Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Goregaon-Mulund link road among others. “The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of Scheduled enactment,” the Tribunal observed and initiated a suo motu plea.
The panel granted three-week time to CPCB, MPCB and BMC Commissioner to file their responses and also issued notice to other respondents seeking their replies in the matter. Noting that as the matter related to Western Zonal Bench of the NGT, same be transferred to the Western Zonal Bench, Pune for appropriate further action, which will hear it next on May 28.
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