NGT directs Environment Ministry to ensure green cover along highways

National Green Tribunal directed Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to develop an effective monitoring mechanism for controlling air pollution on National Highways. NGT has declared that ensuring maintenance of green belts on both sides of all highways is mandatory. NGT directed this after y came across various reports and learned that removing encroachments were t adequate in absence of an effective institutional mechanism to monitor compliance of such rms. 

NGT order 

NGT order said: "Accordingly we direct Secretary MoEF & CC in collaboration with Secretary Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to evolve an effective monitoring mechanism at national level with object of ensuring maintenance of green belts on both sides of all Highways up to specified distance, re is construction up to specified distance, re is direct access to Highway, re is encroachment and buildings on roadsides are regulated in terms of environmental rms so that air/water pollution or encroachment of Highway is caused”. 

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NGT order also said that monitoring mechanism is likely to deal with highways into defined parts. This includes, “future policy with regard to Highways to be constructed henceforth; policy with regard to Highways already constructed or in progress where is available; policy with regard to highways where constructions have already been made with regard to division in nature of construction and legality reof”.  

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Data accumulation 

National Green Tribunal also directed Environment Ministry to collect requisite data in respect of National Highways from NHAI and in respect of State Highways from respective States and UTs. order also said that  data can be compiled by Chief Secretaries of States/UTs in coordination with ir respective Environment, Forests, and Public Works Departments.  NGT has asked NHAI to file an affidavit about extent of encroachment on National Highway.

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As per NGT, collected data should contain “details of extent of encroachment and action plan for its removal, provisions for leaving up to a particular distance from road for expansion and for plantation, extent of access directly allowed from Highway to buildings and ensuring that re is direct access to road obstructing existing or potential plantation and  buildings near roads up to a specified distance are regulated to ensure that air, water or or pollution is caused and encroachment takes place or on roads on account of activities of such buildings”.  

(With ANI Inputs)

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