Delhi: Committee probing illegal cutting of trees in Ridge issues notice to concerned officials

The Fact Finding Committee comprising Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Imran Hussain has directed the Principal Secretary (Environment & Forest), Vice Chairman DDA, Principal Commissioner (LD & LM) DDA along with Commissioner (Housing) DDA, DCP (South Delhi) along with SHO of the concerned area and other senior officials to be present in the meeting scheduled on July 1.

The Supreme Court has issued notice to GNCTD to file an affidavit in the matter. The committee has to submit the factual report to the court by July 11.

The next date of hearing in the Apex court is on July 12.

Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had asked for a report from the Forest Department but the officials have gone on medical leave, after which a fact-finding committee was constituted.

The committee will find out on whose directions DDA had illegally cut 1100 trees in the Ridge area.

During the meeting held on June 26 with the officers of the Forest Department, the Environment and Forest Minister was briefed that violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and violation of Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 that had taken place by way of illegal cutting of trees by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in Southern Ridge.

To get a clear picture of the alleged offence, in the meeting held on June 26, the Environment Minister directed the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to submit a chronological detail and up-to-date status of the matter by June 27 at 11.00 AM.

The same was not received till June 28 at 11.00 am. Thereafter a reminder note was sent on June 28 to submit the report on the same day but the same was not received from the Forest Department.

Considering the seriousness of the issue involving the illegal cutting of about 1100 trees, a Minister meeting was held on June 29 at 3:00 pm in the chamber of the Environment Minister at the Delhi Secretariat to discuss the issue. (ANI)