Green belts, parks can’t be misused: NGT

Tribune News Service

Panipat, August 21

The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered Chief Secretary, Haryana, to plan a mechanism to take suitable action to check encroachments on green belts throughout the state.

The NGT mentioned in the order that green belts and parks developed, based on approved master plan, can’t be used for other purposes.

The Tribunal announced the order on the complaint of the members of Residents’ Welfare Association of Sector-18.

Gurdeep Singh, president, RWA, had filed a complaint against Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) officials for encroachment on the green belt in the sector at the behest of HSVP officers.

He said the HSVP officers had established illegal entry points in the green belt at three places — near Babarpur police station and at CIA police station and near the Ansal gate.

He said the HSVP officials had also allowed the opening of liquor shops on the green belt.

“The officers have also cut down healthy trees to benefit some people, while some locals had also encroached upon the green belt,” he said.

Following the complaint, the NGT served a notice on the Chief Secretary, Haryana; Chief Administrator, HSVP; Estate Officer, HSVP; and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation.

The Principal Bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goyal, Chairperson, NGT, in its order said: “It is not understood how liquor vend, which requires licence from the Excise Department of the state, can be allowed to be located in a park or in a notified green belt. The officers concerned responsible for protecting such green belt and any such encroachment must be dealt with strictly.”

It also said in the order that the green belts and parks developed, based on approved master plan, can’t be used for other purposes.

The bench ordered the Chief Secretary, Haryana, to examine throughout the state by seeking reports from the authorities concerned and to furnish a report to the Tribunal.

The allegation

Gurdeep Singh, president, RWA, had filed a complaint against Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) officials for encroachment on the green belt in the sector at the behest of HSVP officers. He said the HSVP officers had established illegal entry points in the green belt at three places - near Babarpur police station and at CIA police station and near the Ansal gate. He said the HSVP officials had also allowed the opening of liquor shops on the green belt. The officers have also cut down healthy trees to benefit some people, while some locals had also encroached upon the green belt, he said.

What the order says...

The green belts and parks developed, based on approved master plan, can't be used for other purposes. It is not understood how liquor vend, which requires licence from the Excise Department, can be allowed to be located in a park or in a notified green belt. The officers concerned, responsible for protecting such green belt and any such encroachment, must be dealt with strictly. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goyal, Principal bench head, NGT Chairperson