Ghaziabad: While hearing a plea alleging the construction of roads and other structures within Sai Upwan city forest, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the district magistrate to ensure that no illegal construction is carried out inside the forest area until the next date of hearing.The interim order was passed on July 2 by a bench comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad while hearing a petition filed by former municipal corporator Rajendra Tyagi.Counsel for the applicant, Akash Vasishtha, alleged that around 70,000 trees had either dried up or been destroyed due to non-forest activities inside Sai Upwan. The bench noted that the applicant had sought interim relief, contending that Sai Upwan is notified as a city forest under Ghaziabad Master Plans 2021 and 2031 and that Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam was carrying out illegal construction inside the forest.The bench, while listing the matter for further hearing on Sept 16, noted that since the respondent did not appear before the tribunal, “the arguments raised by the applicant remain uncontroverted.”The tribunal is currently hearing two separate matters concerning Sai Upwan. Original application (OA) 168, filed on Feb 26, relates to the discharge of wastewater and dumping of construction and demolition waste in the area, while OA 303 pertains to alleged illegal construction and damage to the forest cover. OA 303 was registered following the tribunal’s March 19 order directing the applicant to file a separate petition on the issue of illegal constructions.The petition alleges that road construction, earth filling, reclamation and other works have altered the character of the land. “Thousands of trees have been damaged and a significant additional space of at least 100 acres, which could, otherwise, be put under afforestation for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, has also been lost,” Vashishtha added.The petition further claims that non-forest use of the forest is in complete defiance of the action plan under National Clean Air Programme, executed by CPCB, under sections 16(2)(b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and also contrary to the micro plan of non-attainment city, prepared by UPPCB, in respect of creation of green cover under Section 17 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.During the hearing of OA 303 on May 15, the tribunal issued notices to Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, UP govt, Ghaziabad Development Authority, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, district magistrate, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the divisional forest officer.
