New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the government for answers regarding the cutting down of many trees in Delhi. This issue came up during a hearing about a private builder who allegedly removed thousands of trees in Chajju Ram Bagh, Jindpur, to build a warehouse and a commercial storage space.
On December 9, the NGT Chairperson, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, noted that the north Delhi district magistrate had not submitted his response. The tribunal had earlier asked for important land records and details about the area from the past 20 years to understand the situation better.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) submitted a report stating that forest officials had fined the builder Rs 9 lakh for illegally cutting down 15 trees. However, the tribunal questioned how this fine was decided and what rules were used.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) also responded, including a document from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change dated July 14, 2020. This document approved the construction project that included cutting down trees. The tribunal emphasized that the number of trees in the area needed to be counted according to the project’s conditions.
As a result, the tribunal decided to involve the Ministry of Environment as an additional party in the case. The NGT is expecting them to explain the tree counting process and any actions taken for the illegal cutting of trees. The next hearing is scheduled for April 1.
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