The National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, has ordered a stay on implementation of a master plan for Mount Abu prepared by the Rajasthan government, giving a reason to cheer for the local green crusaders.

NGT's principal bench has asked the state government and the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to respond to the petition filed by environment activist Arun Sharma within two weeks.

“We restrain the respondents or any other person from felling of trees. Constructions if any, raised presently would be subject to the orders that may be passed in the present application. The respondents would also not sanction any fresh plan for construction without specific leave of the tribunal,“ the NGT order stated.

The MoEF had declared Mount Abu as an eco-sensitive zone in June 2009 following recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Mohan Ram committee's recommendations that found the hill town to be an eco-fragile area and that immediate measures must be taken to stop ecological degradation.

The petitioner said that the master plan allows construction on the agricultural land and huge chunks of green hills would be destroyed for commercial construction considering a population increase by 2030.

Besides, any provision of buffer zone around any wildlife sanctuary or eco-sensitive zone has been thrown to the winds, where construction has come up right on the toes of Mount Abu.

Sharma said the master plan serves no benefit to the local denizens or hotel businesses, except to a handful of land satraps from various states.