In a significant development, the Supreme Court has recently lashed out at the Delhi Development Authority for giving permission to fell 422 trees at southern Ridge’s reserve forest for making a road.
The Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan while hearing the case, declared that this is an established position, as implied by tree officer’s statement, that officer did not give the permission.
Furthermore, the apex court also declared, that just like DDA, Delhi government has also been insensitive towards environment protection.
The Bench also asked the Delhi government to ‘take the blame’ for giving permission to destroy 422 trees, despite no statutory power granted as such to the Delhi government.
Moreover, it also declared, that the government facilitated the cutting of trees outside the ridge area without approval needed under the ‘Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994’.
As per the affidavit, the court also alleged, that is not the first time that forest department had given approval for the felling of trees. Earlier too, they have done it.
Later, the supreme court demanded Delhi government to generate an action report plan regarding this matter and against the officers who indiscriminately gave permission for cutting trees.
In addition, they also asked Delhi government to check how such approvals have been given by the Delhi government in the previous 5 years and present these permissions on record.
Meanwhile as per Delhi government, DDA had admitted, that they have misread the notification given by them.
But in response, the court said, ‘That will not absolve the Delhi government of its responsibility of passing orders permitting the felling of trees, though no statutory power is vested in the Delhi government.’
However, senior lawyer for Delhi government told the apex court, that infrastructure of the office, staff and mandatory software & hardware will provided to tree authority and tree officer in the coming six weeks.
Responding to this assurance the bench said ‘The Delhi government shall also ensure that the Tree Authority is properly constituted before the next date. Regarding the forest department of the state government, the entire infrastructure must be put in place within two months from today.’
Overall, the government declared that Delhi government shall issue an affidavit regarding the measures taken by forest department to check environmental damage.
Recently, the supreme court of India was entertaining a suo-moto contempt against DDA (Delhi Development Authority) vice-chairman. Who is accused of allegedly felling 1,100 trees in the ridge forest for widening the road.
