Supreme Court Monitoring Body Probes KBR National Park Work Sites After Tree Felling Claims
The Central Empowered Committee visited Hyderabad to investigate alleged environmental violations within the KBR National Park's protective zone. The probe follows reports that trees were cleared during a court-ordered stay.
Central Empowered Committee Scrutinizes H-CITI Project Site
A high-level inspection by the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) took place on Friday at the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park. Members of the committee visited the site to verify claims regarding potential violations of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The investigation focused on the current construction of underpasses and flyovers—collectively known as the H-CITI project—along the park's boundaries.
During the visit, the CEC held discussions with GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan and Chief Engineer Sahadev Ratnakar. Further consultations with Forest Department officials were conducted to gain technical clarity on the current state of the ESZ. These inspections were triggered by reports that tree felling continued near the park in direct defiance of a standing judicial stay issued by the Supreme Court.
Environmentalists Challenge Legality of Protection Zones
The legal dispute traces back to a 2020 notification by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) which established the current ESZ boundaries. Activists Kaajal Maheshwari, Jasveen Jairath, and Sagar Dhara filed a challenge against this notification on the following grounds:
- Lack of statutory public hearings prior to the issuance of the final notification.
- Disregard for expert committee recommendations under the MoEFCC.
- Premature execution of the H-CITI project while legal disputes remained unresolved.
While the apex court allowed construction activity to proceed, it strictly prohibited the removal of trees within the ESZ area. The petitioners initially sought relief from the High Court but escalated the matter to the Supreme Court after the municipal corporation began large-scale clearing of vegetation on road medians.
Upcoming Hearings and Stakeholder Engagement
To conclude the site assessment, CEC member Anjan Kumar Mohanty scheduled a formal meeting with the complainants for Monday. This session aims to document the evidence and grievances of the environmentalists who allege that the H-CITI project compromises the ecological integrity of Hyderabad's primary green space. The findings of this inspection will likely influence the court's next move regarding the infrastructure project's environmental compliance.
Source: The Hindu — News
