Sample Reading Comprehension - 1 | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
In recent days, residents of Delhi have expressed their opposition to the government's decision to permit the felling of more than 14,000 trees in south Delhi. In response to strong criticism, the National Buildings Construction Corporation, responsible for the redevelopment of several south Delhi colonies, assured the Delhi High Court on Monday that no trees would be cut for the project until July 4, providing temporary relief. Many of the targeted trees are mature, local, fruit-bearing specimens that play a crucial role in providing clean air, shade, water recharge, and serve as habitats for numerous birds. These areas in Delhi have been recognized as the "lungs" of the city. Unfortunately, these qualities are overlooked in the project reports.
Large-scale constructions in India have posed challenges in terms of management. The construction sector has actively lobbied for exemptions from the country's environmental norms, successfully securing special privileges in the environmental clearance process. Since 2006, most construction projects have been approved based on application forms rather than detailed assessment reports. In 2014, educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and hostels, were exempted from obtaining environmental clearances if they adhered to specific sustainability parameters. In 2016, projects with areas less than 20,000 sq m were allowed to proceed with a self-declaration of adherence to environmental norms. Consequently, construction projects significantly contribute to urban air and noise pollution, as well as high water consumption in cities. Compensatory afforestation, undertaken in place of trees felled by projects, has proven unsuccessful due to poor sapling survival rates and inadequate monitoring. Despite these issues, regulatory bodies tend to treat large constructions with leniency.
The Minister for Urban Development has dismissed the public campaign as "misinformed," but this assertion does not align with the reality. In a literate and urban society with widespread access to the Internet, the absence of official information on urban development and its consequences can be perceived as a form of indirect public silencing. Notably, there are no public hearings for urban construction projects, and governments often assume that citizens have no meaningful input. Given the complex governance structure in Delhi, residents are urging the government to adopt more inclusive approaches to city redesign. There is a call for collaboration among governments to commit to reviewing these projects.