Home India News Apex court halts parking lot construction at Siri Fort

Apex court halts parking lot construction at Siri Fort

By IANS

New Delhi : The Supreme Court Friday halted the construction of a parking lot at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here, being built as part of plans to upgrade the city for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan ordered suspension of the creation of the parking lot on a plea by a morning walker, who objected to the felling of trees for the project.

Asking the authorities to consider an alternative site for the parking lot, the bench ordered status quo till further orders.

The bench halted the setting up of the parking lot despite opposition by Additional Solicitor General Amarender Saran, who contended that the government was already working against deadlines and a stay order would delay the project.

The petitioner had moved the apex court, objecting to the felling of trees and denigration of the forest near the Siri Fort Sports Complex, which is being spruced up for the international sports event.

The petitioner’s counsel M.L. Lahoty contended that the government was destroying greenery in the area in the name of the Commonwealth Games, and sought a direction to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to save the trees in the area at any cost.

Lahoty also added that it would deprive residents of adjoining areas of a proper place for morning walks.

He told the court that the DDA has allotted 14 acres of land to provide facilities for the Commonwealth Games 2010 near the Siri forest area and the Siri Fort Sports Complex.

Apart from the allotted 14 acres of land, the DDA was encroaching upon the green belt of the sports complex and destroying it by felling hundreds of trees for building a golf driving range, a children’s corner and a skating rink, the application said.