The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruled on Monday that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) encroached on a protected wetland in Goyla Khurd village, southwest Delhi, during construction of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II). The tribunal noted eight pillars built over 2.36 square metres of the pond, amounting to 0.23% of its area. The road was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruled on Monday that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) violated environmental regulations during construction of a section of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) in southwest Delhi's Goyla Khurd village.
The tribunal's order stated, "The Wetland Authority of Delhi in its reply has clarified that the water body of Village Goyla Khurd is a listed wetland and is required to be protected... Thus, it is clear that the NHAI by constructing 8 pillars has encroached upon an area of 2.36 sqm. of the pond, which comes to around 0.23% area of the pond."
The project aims to reduce travel time, ease traffic congestion in the city, and improve connectivity across the National Capital Region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated UER-II along with the Delhi stretch of the Dwarka Expressway on August 17 last year, vowing to transform the national capital into a “world-class city.”
