Court curbs on converting park into water tank
By IANSSunday, July 11, 2010
NEW DELHI - The judicial battle of the residents of the Rohini neighbourhood to save a park has started on a positive note with the Delhi High Court restraining, for now, the civic agencies from converting the green area into an underground water tank.
“Till further orders, the respondents (civic agencies) are directed to maintain status quo in regard to the site in question,” Justice S.N. Aggarwal said while restraining the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Jal Board.
The court’s direction came on a petition filed by the Residents Welfare Association of Rohini.
The petition said that there was only one park in the neighbourhood with 13,000 residents and its conversion into a a tank would harm the environment.
“Destruction of the park and the playground would adversely affect the ecological balance and healthy environment in the area,” said the petition.
It also said that the court must direct the authorities to use the vacant space nearby for the construction of the tank.
The court, after hearing the arguments, stayed the construction of the tank in the park and directed the government and civic authorities to file their replies.
The next date of hearing is July 22.
–Indo Asian News Service
