Ludhiana MC chief to appear before NGT on July 31

Ludhiana, July 19

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Sandeep Rishi to appear in person before its Bench on July 31, in connection with the MC’s encroachment on greenbelts through the construction of a library at a park, the concretisation of greenbelts from Sherpur Chowk to Jagraon Bridge, and the Lodhi Club and Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School at BRS Nagar.

The NGT has also directed the commissioner to explain why no proceedings under the Section 26 of the NGT should be initiated against him, and no environmental compensation be imposed on the civic body.

According to the Ludhiana Master Plan, the area is a greenbelt, and this information was relayed to the DC, MC and PPCB, but in order to allow for encroachments and illegal parking, a report was prepared mentioning the areas as part of the approach road. Kapil Arora, President, council of engineers

In October 2022, the Council of Engineers filed a case through its president Kapil Arora, and following the first hearing, the tribunal formed a committee consisting of members from the Environment Ministry, MC, Punjab Pollution Control Board and the district administration.

The Environment Ministry member submitted a report referring to the areas as greenbelts, but the reports prepared by the DC, MC, and PPCB mentioned the areas fell under the purview of the right-of-way provisions.

While rejecting the DC’s report in August, 2023, the NGT formed another committee to discern the facts.

In November, 2023, the committee requested that the MC to provide the Development Plan (Master Plan). The MC failed to provide the document. Consequently, the committee submitted a partial report on January 9, mentioning that the MC had not provided the Development Plan.

During yesterday’s hearing, the Bench slammed the MC Commissioner and ordered him to appear in person before the bench on the next date.