The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) said on Monday that creating a basement parking for as many as 70,000 cars is the reason behind the large number of trees being earmarked for cutting during the redevelopment of seven government residential colonies in the capital.
Apart from the 1,400 and 2,200 trees that will be chopped down in Nauroji Nagar and Netaji Nagar, respectively, around 13,000 trees may have to be removed to facilitate construction in the five other colonies being redeveloped.
A K Mittal, chairman and managing director of NBCC, said the land was being redeveloped with “green features”, including solid waste processing, organised parking, use of recycled water for horticulture and flushing, green cover and being zero discharge. The built-up area is going to occupy only about 20% of the land, with the rest of the space being open and half of it planned to be a green area. Mittal, however, didn’t explain why NBCC didn’t follow National Green Tribunal’s order of September 2017 that said “plants will be planted as a condition precedent to the cutting of trees”.
TOI reported on Monday that the environment clearance was given for the Netaji Nagar redevelopment project on the condition that NBCC complied with NGT’s order on compensatory planting before chopping down the trees. Mittal, however, argued, “We got the tree-felling approval from Delhi government. They would have known about the NGT order. We got the permission after the disposal of the NGT case.”
The NBCC CMD agreed that even if one tree was cut, it would have an impact on the environment. “But people have to understand that we are not building a personal house,” he added. “These properties are for people and for the future of Delhi. We will ensure that 70,000 cars get parking space so that they are not parked on roads.” He explained that the Centre was not investing any money in these redevelopment projects and NBCC was raising much of the funds by building a commercial centre with 12 towers that had shopping complexes and office spaces.
Mittal gave the example of New Moti Nagar residential complex, where NBCC managed to save many old trees by building around them. The company would try to plant plants already grown to around 10 feet instead of saplings to ensure their better survival. Maintenance of the plantations that will accommodate 10 new trees for every tree felled during the redevelopment has been contracted to another agency.
At Monday’s press conference, Mittal also cited the examples of NBCC colonies like New Moti Bagh and East Kidwai Nagar and urged people to consider the green measures taken there. “The average girth size of trees planted in East Kidwai Nagar was 10-15 cm and the species were Gulmohar, mango, Champa, jack fruit and Ashok. More varieties will be included to help reduce pollution and make the complex greener and beautiful,” he said. “You should also consider the fact that there will be major groundwater recharge in the colonies we are developing.”
