NGT Demands Explanation from MP Government Over Ratibad Stadium Tree Felling
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a firm stance on the controversial issue of tree felling for a massive cricket stadium in Ratibad, Bhopal. On Tuesday, the central bench of the environmental authority directly questioned the Madhya Pradesh state government, demanding to know why it should not hear a petition challenging the legality of land use change and the destruction of over 700 trees.
Government's Contention and Petitioner's Challenge
The state government's counsel argued vigorously that the matter of land use change does not fall under the NGT's jurisdiction, asserting it has no environmental implications. However, this position was strongly contested by the petitioner, who highlighted the severe environmental damage caused by the conversion of a golf course into a cricket stadium.
The petitioner's counsel, Harpreet Singh Gupta, presented compelling arguments during Monday's hearing in the case—Nitin Saxena versus MP State Road Development Corporation. He emphasized that the retrospective alteration of land use from a golf course to a cricket stadium is not only illegal but has resulted in significant ecological harm through extensive tree felling.
Detailed Background of the Land Use Controversy
According to the petition, the Town and Country Planning (T&CP) Department originally granted permission for constructing a golf course at Barkheda Nathu in Ratibad. This approval was later changed retrospectively to allow for the development of a large-scale cricket stadium, a move the petitioner claims violates legal and environmental protocols.
The NGT has now called for a detailed reply from the state government, signaling its intent to thoroughly examine whether the land use change and associated tree felling constitute environmental violations that warrant its intervention. This development marks a critical juncture in the ongoing legal battle over urban development versus environmental conservation in Madhya Pradesh.
