"Delhi Govt takes firm stand," says Environment Ministry after SC reprimands over illegal trees cut

In response to the illegal felling of 1,100 trees in South Delhi's Reserve Forest Area without Supreme Court permission, Delhi's government has taken a firm stand, the Environment Ministry said in a press release.

"Concerned about the significant environmental damage, Environment and Forest Minister Gopal Rai held an urgent meeting with Forest Department officials on Wednesday, demanding all relevant records and a status report on actions taken so far. The Forest Department has been instructed to provide this information by 11 am on Thursday.," an official release stated.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition from an NGO regarding the illegal tree cutting in the Ridge Area.

A few days ago, an NGO brought this matter to light and informed the Supreme Court regarding the illegal cut of around 1,100 trees in the ridge area of South Delhi.

"Actually, a few days ago, an NGO raised the issue of cutting 1,100 trees without any permission in the Ridge area of South Delhi before the Supreme Court. The NGO told the court that 1,100 trees have been cut illegally in the Reserve Forest Area of South Delhi. Whereas it is necessary to take permission from the Supreme Court before cutting trees in the Ridge area. Even after getting the information about cutting these trees, the Forest Department did not take any action," said the official press release.

It further stated, "The NGO told the court that after cutting the trees, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) came to the Supreme Court to seek permission to cut them. The DDA did not tell the Supreme Court that it had already cut these trees. The DDA has disobeyed the order of the Supreme Court and has also lied on its affidavit."

It should also be noted that only the Supreme Court can permit the cutting of trees in the forest areas of Delhi. When the DDA's theft was caught, the Supreme Court questioned the DDA and asked on whose orders these trees were cut.

The Delhi government has also taken this matter seriously after the strictness of the Supreme Court.

The decision came after the Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi Government for allowing the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to illegally cut trees in the city's Ridge area and questioned why its Forest Department did not take any action despite being "fully aware of the gross violations by the DDA."

A vacation bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan also issued notice to the Delhi government through the Principal Secretary of the Environment and Forest Department.

"The Principal Secretary shall file an affidavit explaining how the government has permitted the felling of trees by exercising the powers of the Tree Authority under the Delhi Protection of Trees Act 1994. He will also explain why action was not taken against DDA notwithstanding the fact that the Forest Department of the Government was fully aware of gross violation by DDA," the bench ordered.

The bench took strong objection to the State Forest Department's notification issued to DDA as permission for the felling of trees. (ANI)