Illegal structures near Birla Mandir demolished: NGT told

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was today informed by Delhi government that it has demolished illegal religious structures in the Central Ridge area near the Birla temple here.

A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim perused the status report filed by Delhi government's counsel which said that they have complied with the tribunal's order directing demolition of the illegal structures.

"In compliance with the direction of the NGT, demolition was carried out inside 7.5 acres ridge land on January 4, 2017 successfully," the report said.

The structures demolished were "Prachin Mahamai temple along with platforms, four jhuggis and two chabutara". The service road running parallel to Birla Mandir was left as the representative of Land and Development Office contended that this was part of the temple and should be left, it said.
 

The bench was hearing an execution petition filed by the petitioner seeking implementation of tribunal's March 3, 2015 order directing demolition of the illegal structure.

Advocate Prafulla K Behera, appearing for petitioner K C Bhargava, said despite tribunal's March 2015 order authorities had not complied with it.

During the day, the Delhi government told the bench that to prevent any attempt to re-encroach the area, construction of boundry wall was essential but the work could not be started due to intervention and obstruction by the temple management claiming that this area was allotted to them for service road.

To this, the tribunal directed the Delhi government to construct the boundry wall at the earliest and file a status report by March 6, the next date of hearing.

The earlier order had come on a contempt petition filed by Bhargava, who resides near the temple located on Mandir Marg in central Delhi, stating that the constructions were in violation of a Supreme Court order prohibiting non-forest activity in the 7.5 acres of land adjacent to the shrine.

The petition also submitted that the Ridge -- the northern extension of Aravalli Range -- has been notified as a reserved forest as per the Delhi government's May 24, 1994 notification by which any non-forest activity there, without permission of competent authority, is prohibited.