Supreme Court Mandates Green Cover Enhancement in Delhi with CEC Recommendations

The Supreme Court has accepted recommendations from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to create a data module for tracking tree felling and compensatory plantation projects in Delhi. The court directed the immediate implementation of these measures to ensure compliance and warned project proponents of punitive actions for non-compliance.

The Supreme Court on Friday approved a series of recommendations from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which includes developing a customised module to record data on projects involving tree removal, detailing the number of trees to be cut or translocated, and documenting compensatory planting efforts to address the decreasing green cover in the capital.

The bench, comprising Justices A S Oka and A G Masih, reviewed the committee's report and directed the CEC to implement the recommendations. They also expressed their expectation that the Delhi government has ceased to exercise tree authority powers, a concern previously noted by the court.

The committee's report suggests that project proponents be given six months to comply with court-imposed conditions for tree felling permits. Failure to comply could lead to punitive measures. The Supreme Court has mandated these recommendations be enacted immediately and stressed the importance of regular data updates to ensure adherence to court orders.