NGT bans protests at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned all protests at Jantar Mantar here with immediate effect, citing environmental concerns. Interestingly, this decision of the NGT adds grist to the mill of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is keen on shifting the Dharna Chowk near Indira Park to some other place, despite outcry from opposition parties and other circles.

The NGT, in its verdict on Thursday, banned all protests and dharnas around the historic Jantar Mantar area, which over the years has become a hotspot of public protests and agitations, maintaining that such activities were violative of citizens’ rights and environmental laws. The green body said the State had totally failed to protect the right of enjoying pollution-free environment when it comes to citizens living in the Jantar Mantar Road area, close to Connaught Place, in the heart of the city.

The NGT observed that it was the duty of the State to ensure that the rights of the people to live a peaceful and comfortable life were not infringed by those who create noise pollution in the name of their right of freedom of speech and expression, which could never be unlimited.

A bench, headed by Justice R S Rathore, also directed the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to remove all make-shift and temporary structures, loud speakers, and public address systems from the stretch of the road. The municipal body was also directed to remove the garbage lying in the area and clean it within four weeks.

The tribunal directed the authorities to shift protesters, agitators and the people holding dharna (sit-in) to alternative site at the Ramleela Grounds in Ajmeri Gate, "forthwith". "It is amply clear that the petitioners are suffering because of gross violation of laws, air pollution and health hazards due to lack of cleanliness and non-performance of duty by the authorities of the State which is endangering their life.

"The environmental condition at Jantar Mantar Road in relation to noise pollution, cleanliness, management of waste and public health has grossly deteriorated. Besides, constant dharna, slogans, noise pollution, health problems due to unhygienic conditions generated by the agitators round-the-clock, is unique in the instant case," the bench, also comprising expert member S S Garbyal, said.

The NGT ordered the NDMC Chairman, Police Commissioner and the Delhi government to file compliance reports within five weeks, starting Thursday. It said the people participating in protests and raising slogans through loudspeakers had no right to compel the petitioner and others living in the area to listen to and tolerate it day and night.

"The locality has completely changed, where one finds that men, women and children are bathing, washing their clothes under Delhi Jal Board tankers and the situation becomes worse when the people are seen defecating in the open, on pavements, which creates a totally unhygienic situation on the entire road," the bench said.

Due to the continuous activity of the protesters for years, the site had virtually become hell for the residents of the locality who cannot sleep at night, face noise pollution during the day, having difficulties to enter their house, the bench said.

The NGT's verdict came on a plea filed by Varun Seth and others alleging that processions and agitations held by social groups, political parties and NGOs at the Jantar Mantar Road were a major source of noise pollution in the area.

Telangana to appeal
The Telangana government has decided to appeal the interim stay ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the construction of Kaleshwaram Project in the Supreme Court.

Reacting to the NGT order, Kaleshwaram Project chief engineer B Hariram said that drinking water supply was an important component of the project and the same had been conveyed to the NGT. The Kaleshwaram project was directly linked to the Mission Bhagiratha scheme, which aims to provide drinking water to all households.

He said that no environmental clearances were required for drinking water supply projects. He said that works on providing irrigation water would be started only after getting environmental and forest clearances. However, he said that the government would appeal against the NGT order after assessing the full text of the interim verdict.