The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter relating to the planned felling of over 33,000 trees to facilitate the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) by the railway infrastructure development company-Karnataka (K-RIDE).
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item dated 11.06.2024.
The article alleges that while the project is a significant step towards reducing dependence on private vehicles and enhancing sustainable mobility, the sheer number of trees proposed to be felled will have adverse consequences on the city. It claims that the suburban rail can be started in the existing railway network, if proper signal automation and doubling of tracks are done.
The above matter indicated Bench violation of the provisions of the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. A. Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Through its Chief Commissioner.
ii. Rail Infrastructure Development Company(Karnataka) Limited – “KRIDE”, Through its Managing Director .
iii. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Karnataka Karnataka Forest Department, Government of Karnataka .
iv. District Magistrate, Bengaluru .
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents.
Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai, therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Southern Zonal Bench for appropriate further action.Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Southern Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 11.09.2024.