Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration is reworking the layout of the proposed Bulk Material Market in Sector 56, with a dedicated sewage treatment plant (STP) and solid waste management plan being incorporated into the project. The UT has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that 305 green trees removed from the site were felled after obtaining the requisite permission.According to the administration, the project proposal was placed before the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) on April 27 and again on Aug 20. The modifications are being carried out following observations made by the committee.The revised proposal now includes a separate STP for the market, besides a solid waste management plan. The modified proposal is being resubmitted to the committee for consideration.The administration said mandatory baseline environmental monitoring had been conducted for three months, from Nov 2025 to Jan 2026, before the application for environmental clearance was submitted in April 2026. The UT maintained that no further activity would be undertaken at the site till environmental clearance was obtained.BOX 1: The ProjectThe UT informed the NGT that the 81.6-acre site in Maloya was acquired through a 2000 notification for establishing the Bulk Material Market, intended to rehabilitate scattered marble, scrap and furniture market activities.The proposed project comprises SCOs, booths, association offices, warehouses and transport areas, with an overall permissible built-up area of about 3.2 lakh sq m.BOX 2: 305 trees removedFor securing the site, the administration obtained approval from the secretary (Forests), UT, for removal of 305 green trees. These trees were removed in June 2025. Another 34 dead or dry trees were also removed.The UT has denied that the trees were felled without permission, stating that approval was granted on Feb 18, 2025.The administration told the NGT that the trees removed were those obstructing access and that substantial tree cover continues to exist at the project site. It has sought dismissal of the application, while reserving the right to file a detailed counter-affidavit, if required.986 MANGO TREES PLANTEDThe administration has also placed details of compensatory plantation before the NGT. Against the removal of 305 green trees, it said 986 mango trees were planted at Rajinder Garden, Sector 1, on July 5, 2025.The UT submitted that plantation exceeded the requirement recommended by the Tree Felling Committee and deputy conservator of forests, which had recommended planting 920 trees.BOX 3: 23 sites up for auctionThe State Agricultural Marketing Board is set to start the e-auction process for 23 SCO (shop-cum-office) sites in the New Grain, Fruit and Vegetable Market, Sector 39, from Sept 1, 2026. The auction will be held on Sept 29.Each site is around 100 square metres, with the reserve price for each fixed at around Rs 5.3 crore.
