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The Supreme Court of India has strongly condemned the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for cutting down 642 trees in the ecologically sensitive Delhi Ridge without the court's approval.
The court's sharp disapproval came in response to an affidavit filed by DDA vice chairman Subhashish Panda, in which he claimed that he was unaware of the tree felling. However, the court expressed disbelief in Panda's claim, saying that it 'cannot trust the DDA now'.
The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by Bindu Kapurea against DDA over the felling of trees in the Satbari area in southern Ridge. The petition alleged that the DDA had cut the trees without the Supreme Court's approval, which is required for any tree felling in the Delhi Ridge.
In his affidavit, Panda confirmed that the 642 trees -- 468 on forest land and 175 on DDA or non-forest land -- were felled in Satbari over 10 days starting February 16, long before the Supreme Court on March 4 rejected DDA's application to cut the trees to widen the road.
Panda claimed that he was recuperating after a surgical procedure when the trees were cut and that he was not aware of the mistake committed by field staff in going ahead with the cutting of trees on the basis of exemption and approvals obtained from various authorities.
However, the court was not convinced by Panda's explanation and ordered the DDA to restore the land to its original condition by replanting trees, fencing the entire stretch and not carrying out any further road-widening work.
The court also asked Attorney General R Venkataramani, who appeared for Panda, to take instructions if the work of tree plantation and maintenance could be entrusted to any independent agency such as the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
The court's order is a significant setback for the DDA, which has been facing criticism for its handling of the Delhi Ridge, which is one of the few remaining green lungs in the national capital.
The order also sends a strong message that the Supreme Court will not tolerate any violation of its orders, especially when it comes to the protection of the environment.
Source: SC rebukes DDA for cutting trees in Delhi Ridge, says can’t trust it now