Plant 400 trees to build Sector 14 CNG pump: NGT to HUDA

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday gave its nod to the construction of a CNG station in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose park in Sector 14.
A bench, headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar, also directed the owner of the CNG station to pay Rs 5 lakh for ensuring maintenance and upkeep of the environment. "The respondents are permitted to build the CNG station at the place in question," the bench said.The Tribunal also directed Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to plant 400 trees before any construction work of the CNG station is commenced.
During the hearing, the counsel for HUDA informed the bench that the permission for construction of the CNG station has been obtained in accordance with the development plan. He also told the Tribunal that the CNG station would partly fall in the green belt and 40 trees are likely to be cut for the construction of the station.
"The concerned authorities, particularly the Forest Department of the state of Haryana, shall firstly ensure that as many trees as possible out of the 40 trees which are required to be cut/fell are transplanted," the bench said.
The bench had on May 14 ordered status quo on the park after Senior Citizens' Forum filed a petition seeking a stay on the construction of CNG station in the park. The petitioner had contended the CNG station would require cutting a number of trees and other shrubs which would effect the environment adversely.