SC orders no more felling of trees in Delhi's forest ridge; seeks presence of DDA's Vice Chairman, Director General of CPWD

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered no more felling of trees in the South/Central forest ridge and sought the presence of Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authorities (DDA), the Director General of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for allegedly defying apex court's order.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered no more felling of trees in the South/Central forest ridge and sought the presence of Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authorities (DDA), the Director General of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for allegedly defying apex court's order. A bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan also asked the Director General of Forest and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Delhi to remain present before it on May 14 along with the Vice Chairman of DDA and DG of CPWD and issued notices to them.

The apex court directed to maintain the status quo with respect to the ridge area and put a stay on any further felling of trees. The top court was hearing a contempt of court petition relating to the issue of cutting off large numbers of trees in the forest ridge area.

The petitioner, New Delhi Natural Society, said that contended that the forest ridge area of Delhi has been subjected to the illegal felling of the trees by the DDA to construct 10.525 km long approach roads from the main Chattarpur Road to SAARC University, CAPFIMS and other establishments at Maidangarhi, Sayurpur and Satbari areas of Delhi. The petitioner was informed that the tree cutting was proper and legal as the Lt. Governor of Delhi had given the permission vide Gazette Notification dated February 14, the plea said.

However, the petitioner has pointed out that nowhere does the notification allow the clearing of trees located in the ridge area. On March 4, the apex court rejected the DDA's previous applications seeking permission to fell or translocate 1,051 trees.

The petitioner told the top court that DDA failed to inform the bench that the falling had already taken place even before the court could pass any orders on such applications. (ANI)