Committee moves tribunal against encroachments over green belts

The Public Action Committee (PAC) has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against encroachments over green belts and parks done by the Municipal Corporation, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust as well as GLADA with a plea of restitution of all such green lungs of the city.

Er Kapil Arora and Jaskirat Singh from the PAC said after directions of demolition of the MC Extension office, scrapyard and library building by the NGT, they were expecting that the development authorities would act wisely and won’t encroach upon land of parks and green belts. However, despite knowing all facts, the Municipal Commissioner of Ludhiana seems to be adamant to waste the public money.

Despite notices being served on the Principal Secretary of the Local Body Department and the MC, construction of the PWD building as well as commercial vending zone are being continued in green belts along old GT Road.

Further, the MC has constructed a box cricket by erecting the MS structure as well as plastic (artificial) grass in the green belt. Further, buildings in Vishvakarma Park and City Enclave at Barewal, Dog Café’ in a green belt at BRS Nagar, etc, have been constructed in the recent past and despite serving notices and filing complaints on mSeva portal, no action is taken by MC officials.

Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Gurpreet Singh said besides new constructions, there were a large number of parks and green belts in which the civic body, LIT and GLADA themselves have encroached upon by construction of offices, residences, mohalla clinics and commercial Verka booths.

“All such activities are illegal and against the directions of the Supreme Court, NGT and Master Plan of Ludhiana. We had served a notice against Verka booths to all three authorities but GLADA has raised one new Verka booth in a park at Sector 32A Market, a park opposite BJS Dental College at Sector 39 as well as one commercial shop in a park at Jamalpur. Besides, Verka booths are located in a park at Cheema Chowk, Park near 200’ Road, near BCM School, park opposite Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, park in Gurdev Nagar, Rishi Balmiki park at Old GT Road, Mini Rose garden, etc, and all such parks are part of our petition,” Arora said.

Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Gagnish Khurana said the MC was constructing Overhead Water Reservoirs at various locations and one such water tank was going to be constructed in Shahidi Park at Kidwai Nagar. However, the major portion of the park had been encroached by the civic body itself by construction of offices and residences of their staff. Further, there was already one water tank, which was dysfunctional.

The PAC members said despite serving notices on the MC, the Municipal Commissioner had continued to construct a structure for a vending zone and he failed to remove the building constructed illegally in parks and green belts.

“We have pleaded the NGT to initiate contempt proceedings against the Municipal Commissioner, under which there is a provision of imprisonment of three years or fine up to Rs 10 crore. Besides, we have requested the NGT to issue directions to all respondents for restitution of parks and green belts by demolishing impugned illegal structures,” Arora said.

Ludhiana