New Delhi: The apex body in charge of combating pollution levels in the country wants to build a multistorey ‘green building’ on its campus, which will also house a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence lab to study pollution parameters. The only catch — it involves the removal/transplantation of 26 trees and, hence, requires a nod from Delhi High Court.
Examining the proposed plan of Central Pollution Control Board on Friday, the court was sceptical, pointing out that two floors had provisions for a VIP lounge, VIP rooms, indoor games space and a creche in East Arjun Nagar. “Why do you need a VIP lounge and indoor games area? Two floors are only for such facilities in the layout,” Justice Jasmeet Singh said as he studied the building plan that involves two basements, stilt parking and eight floors.
The high court also pointed out that the rate of survival of transplanted trees was low, even as CPCB contended that the trees would be shifted within the campus itself. The court indicated it would depute court-appointed amici to visit the area before taking any decision and adjourned the matter.
In its application, CPCB submitted it had dedicated environmental laboratories for monitoring and analysis of various environmental parameters related to air quality, water quality and waste. “With increasing emerging environmental concerns and complexities in pollution control in the country, there is a need for establishing an expanded integrated state-of-the-art laboratory network with the existing central laboratory. The new labs include hazardous waste analysis lab, persistent organic pollutants labs, antibiotic AMR residues lab, and AI/ML data analytics labs,” it said.
The application added that the “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Lab proposed for the new building will analyse large datasets related to air quality, water quality, noise levels, industrial emissions, discharges and waste for informed and timely decision-making to address environmental challenges effectively.”
It said the final plan “includes transplanting/removal of dead trees (transplantation of 26 trees and removal of three dead trees) as the majority of these trees stand in the proposed fire tender movement area, which is one of the mandatory requirements, as per fire safety norms provided in relevant Delhi Building Bye-Laws applicable in the instant matter.”
CPCB informed the court that for building construction, NOCs were obtained from Delhi Jal Board, forest department, Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Urban Art Commission and Municipal Corporation of Delhi, but all the permissions hinged on the court’s approval. “The NOC/approval from the tree officer and deputy conservator of forest, Kamla Nehru Ridge Area, New Delhi has not been granted to date.”
CPCB said a team from the forest department conducted detailed site inspections and multiple deliberations were held to protect the maximum number of trees. Out of five plans, the one involving the shift of 26 trees within the CPCB campus was identified, compared to the earlier proposal of transplanting 71 trees.
Seeking the court’s nod, CPCB highlighted that its current head office building was commissioned in 1989, having three environmental laboratories, for accommodating the sanctioned strength of 150 personnel. “However, with the passage of time, resources on all counts, including the human resources, remained enhancing at the head office building premises, to meet the timely need,” it contended.
