Supreme Court allows NGO to raise objections to alteration in Noida Draft Master Plan 2031

New Delhi, Mar 14: The Supreme Court has allowed an NGO, which alleged that the Master Plan draft was altered to convert the city forest in Noida's Sector 91 to a biodiversity park, to raise objections before the authorities concerned.

A bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta granted liberty to 'Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions and Promotion of National Awareness' to point its objections to the proposed change of the Noida Draft Master Plan of 2031.

"Thereafter, if the appellant is aggrieved by the Master Plan as finalised, it would be open to it to adopt appropriate proceedings, in accordance with law," the bench said.

The NGO had approached the apex court against November 14 order of the National Green Tribunal which disposed of the plea after taking note of the report by Division Forest Officer (DFO), Gautam Budh Nagar.

The NGO had moved the tribunal against the development of biodiversity park in Sector 91, Noida on the ground that illegal failing of trees was taking place. The apex court also clarified that the NGT order "will not come in the way of the appellant in pursuing its remedies under the law, including before the tribunal afresh".

The NGO had claimed before the NGT that although the DFO granted permission to the Noida Authority only for removal of the Eucalyptus trees, the authority ordered a private contractor for removal of 3,000 trees of different species which is violation of the permission granted under the UP Trees Protection Act, 1976, and hence, the permission is liable to be quashed.

The NGO had sought prohibition on further felling of trees at the biodiversity Park site and plantation of ten times the number of trees felled by the Noida in and around the site.

The Noida Authority plans to develop the biodiversity park on about 75 acres in Sector 91. The Authority has mandated it to be developed as "Noida Biodiversity Park" as per the plan.

PTI