Minto Hall: NGT cracks whip, stops construction

BHOPAL: Acting tough on construction work in historic Minto Hall premises, National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered to maintain a status quo. The directive came after the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) counsel in a reply told the bench that Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) has not taken permission from it for building work. After the NGT order, the construction was immediately stopped.
The bench was hearing the petition of Mohammad Sageer, who highlighted the issue of conversion of Minto Hall into convention centre. He said the agency hired for developmental work is trying to remove over 40 full-grown green trees on the premises. Each tree has been pierced with 30 nails on them with asafetida (heeng) to quicken up drying process, which are situated around the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and main building.
During hearing, counsel for BMC said all trees, which were reported to have been felled, were in fact not felled, but old old dead trees, which fell on their own due to storm and municipal authorities were only removing them.
Unhappy with the reply, the NGT asked the BMC to file a detailed reply. While the tourism department demanded more time to reply, the NGT asked both agencies to submit circumstances under what the development activity was being carried out, including alleged felling of trees in the area and bringing of material for said purpose on the site in question
During last hearing of case on October 4, the NGT served notice to state government agencies, including, collector Bhopal and commissioner, BMC for letting palm on premises of Minto hall dry by piercing nails on tree trunks.
As MPTDC has possession over Minto Hall, the agency did not contact BMC for building permission. So far, the agency working on the spot removed extra construction carried out in past like filling between pillars, a room made and attached to Minto Hall and others. "So far all, extra construction has been removed as we were trying to restore old construction. However, next step will be taken only when the stay order is lifted," an MPTDC official said.
Hearing in the matter is posted for October 27.