SC Summons Officials Over Tree Felling, Delhi HC Demands Transparency

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The Supreme Court has summoned top officials including the Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Director General of CPWD over the felling of more than 1000 trees for a road construction project between Chhatarpur Road and SAARC University near Maidan Garhi. The court, headed by Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta, has directed the officials to appear on May 14th and ordered a maintenance of status quo in the meantime. Additionally, the bench indicated a willingness to explore the possibility of reforestation if deemed necessary.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi representing the petitioner raised concerns over the constitutionality of the Ridge Management Board, accusing it of indiscriminate tree cutting, dubbing it as the “Ridge Destruction Board.” The court took note of the petitioner’s allegations and expressed dissatisfaction over the continued tree cutting despite previous court orders to the contrary, deeming it a prima facie contempt of court.

Meanwhile, on May 3rd, the Delhi High Court, while addressing a PIL concerning the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, instructed the Forest Secretary to coordinate with Delhi Metro, National Highway Authority, and PWD to clear encroachments from forested areas. The Forest Secretary was further directed to furnish detailed information regarding permissions granted for tree felling from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2024.

The court demanded a comprehensive report detailing permissions for tree cutting in protected forests, notified forests, open forests, and biodiversity parks, emphasizing the importance of transparency in environmental governance. Additionally, the report is expected to include data on the number of saplings planted as part of reforestation efforts, underscoring the court’s commitment to ecological conservation and sustainable development.

The legal scrutiny surrounding tree felling underscores the delicate balance between development and environmental protection, highlighting the need for stringent enforcement of regulations to safeguard green spaces and mitigate the adverse impact on air quality and biodiversity.

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Srishti Verma