The Delhi High Court has mandated the Delhi government’s forest department to disclose details concerning tree felling and encroachment clearance within forest regions. Data on the approvals issued to DMRC, NHAI, and PWD for tree removal, encompassing statistics on the number of trees felled, planted, and timber sold, is to be furnished within four weeks. The data should cover the period between April 1, 2022, and March 3, 2024, of this year, as well as the total number of trees that were chopped down.
The guidance was provided in a 2015 suo motu case that the high court filled in response to the poor quality of the air in the nation’s capital. The Delhi High Court has requested comprehensive data regarding designated forests, protected zones, and instances of encroachment clearance. The directive aims to tackle concerns regarding ambient air quality and to gather insights into afforestation initiatives within the national capital.
In a decree issued on May 1, a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the Forest Secretary of the Delhi government to provide specific particulars and information concerning notified reserve forests in Delhi, including details on their respective areas and notifications.
“The Secretary, Department of Forest, is ordered to provide the following information: permissions for tree cutting between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2024, issued by tree officer to the Delhi Metro Rail (DMRC), Public Works Department (PWD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and other authorities. It should include the Number of trees felled by each,” the bench said in its order. Furthermore, the number of trees planted, either through compensatory afforestation or another method.
It should also include information on the quantity of trees planted in open forests, the value of the timber sold and recorded, and the location of the proceeds ‘deposit.” It added. The High Court has issued an order for the information to be provided within 4 weeks and further hearing will be on July 22.
NEWS – PREETI CHAUHAN.
