NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday banned the cutting down of over 16,500 trees for redevelopment of six south Delhi colonies by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) till July 4.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) will hear the matter on 2 July, according to reports.The Delhi High Court’s remarks followed the corporation’s statement that jurisdiction in environmental clearance to a central government project was with the National Green Tribunal.
The NBCC also said it had deposited Rs. eight crore with the tree authority of the Delhi government for permission to cut trees.
Around 16,500 trees are likely to be axed in areas like Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar,Thyagraj Nagar, Mohammadpur and Kasturba Nagar in South Delhi.
Local residents and green bodies have come out on streets to protest against the decision to cut trees and have pointed out how it could further deteriorate the air quality in the city.
On Sunday, about 1,500 protesters hugged the trees in Sarojini Nagar, launching their own ‘Chipko Movement’, a forest conservation movement.
Union environment and forest minister Harsh Vardhan said according to the information he had, the area where the trees were to be felled was a “non-forest area” and the forest department of the Government of India had nothing to do with it.
“For the non-forest areas, whatever local permissions are to be given, are given by the Delhi government. It is directly under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government and not governed by us,” the Union environment and forest minister said.
The AAP’s spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said the environment clearance for the project was given by the Union environment and forest ministry in November 2017 and the final approval was given by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
