Delhi Ministerial Probe: Illegal Felling of 1,100 Trees in Ridge Area

A three-member fact-finding committee of Delhi ministers has served notices to senior DDA officials, forest department, and police for the unpermitted felling of 1,100 trees. The committee, formed on Saturday, will submit its findings to the forest minister and the Supreme Court by July 11.

A three-member fact-finding committee of Delhi ministers has raised serious concerns by issuing notices to senior officials of the DDA, forest department, and Delhi Police over the unauthorized felling of 1,100 trees in the Ridge area. The committee, which includes ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Imran Hussain, was established on Saturday to investigate the incident.

The committee has requested the presence of high-ranking officials, including the principal secretary (environment and forest), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice-chairman, and senior police officers, at a crucial meeting scheduled for July 1. The committee’s findings are expected to be reported to the forest minister and the Supreme Court by July 11.

The Supreme Court has directed Delhi's government and civic bodies to convene and discuss strategic approaches to augment the city's green cover, emphasizing the adverse impact of tree loss on residents. This comes after allegations emerged that tree felling in the Ridge area might have occurred without proper authorization, spurring urgent judicial review.