The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Centre, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, and other authorities to respond to concerns about the Kusumpur Pahadi rehabilitation scheme by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The project aims to build 2,800 homes on nearly 19 acres of land currently housing slum dwellers. However, since this area is part of the Aravali Biodiversity Park, a protected green zone, concerns have been raised about its environmental impact. The NGT stressed that the project's effects on the environment need to be carefully reviewed.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised significant concerns over the proposed Kusumpur Pahadi rehabilitation project by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The scheme intends to build 2,800 houses on an 18.96-acre land currently occupied by around one lakh people in a slum cluster. This slum, known as Kusumpur Pahadi, developed over time as labourers gradually encroached on the area.
However, the land where the project is planned falls within the Aravali Bio-Diversity Park, a 690-acre protected green space in South Delhi, located between Vasant Vihar and Vasant Kunj. This park is seen as a vital ecological zone that helps maintain Delhi's environmental balance by preserving biodiversity and acting as a green buffer against pollution.
In response to a petition, the NGT expressed concerns that the proposed large-scale development could lead to significant environmental degradation, driven by an expected rise in the local population, which may jeopardise the ecological balance in south Delhi. NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava pointed out that heightened population density might place considerable strain on essential resources, such as groundwater and vegetation, ultimately threatening the area's ecosystem.
The petition argued that allowing such large-scale construction in a protected zone would endanger the delicate balance of the Aravali Bio-Diversity Park. It was claimed that this would result in "environmental degradation", a term used by the tribunal to describe the likely negative impact of the project on the park's natural resources.
The NGT indicated that the petition had raised significant concerns about adherence to environmental regulations, suggesting doubts about the project's environmental viability. Consequently, notices were sent to several authorities, including the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and the Ridge Management Board, requesting their official responses on the issue. These responses are to be submitted as affidavits by December 13.
The outcome of this case will not only affect the residents of Kusumpur Pahadi but will also set an important precedent for future urban development in environmentally sensitive areas. The balance between providing housing for the poor and protecting green spaces like the Aravali Park remains a central issue, as the city grapples with urban expansion and environmental conservation.
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