SC raps DDA over felling of trees in Delhi ridge area, proposes massive plantation

The bench proposed to hold a detailed enquiry into the acts of DDA which has resulted in destruction of several valuable trees and consequentially degradation of the environment.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the the Delhi Development Authority's Vice Chairman to make a categorical statement whether trees in the ridge area were cut on the orders of the Lieutenant Governor without its permission. 

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said cutting of trees cannot be brushed aside lightly. They proposed to hold a detailed enquiry into the acts of DDA which has resulted in destruction of several valuable trees and consequentially degradation of the environment. 

The bench said it shocking that the trees were cut despite knowing that it cannot be done without the permission of the top court. 

"Such brazen acts in the capital city cannot be lightly brushed aside by this court. If the authorities are not performing their statutory and constitutional duties of protecting the environment, the court has to give a clear and loud signal to all authorities that the environment cannot be damaged in such a fashion," the bench said. 

The court directed the Vice Chairman to state before it whether any official record is available regarding the site visit of the Lieutenant Governor on February 3 and on what transpired on his visit. 

"We need a clear statement of facts from the Vice Chairman, because if what is indicated in the emails is correct, then the felling of the trees was on the directions by the LG. We expect the DDA to come clean on this aspect," the bench said while issuing contempt notices to the DDA officers concerned. 

The court said it proposed to issue directions for a massive tree plantation drive in the entire national capital territory of Delhi.

It also asked the DDA and Attorney General R Venkataramani to assist it in the matter. The matter will now be heard on June 26. 

The apex court had earlier issued a notice of criminal contempt against DDA VC Subhasish Panda for allowing large-scale felling of trees in the southern Ridge's Satbari area to construct a road from Chhattarpur to South Asian University. 

It had expressed displeasure over a "misleading" affidavit filed by the vice chairman and presenting "wrong facts" before the court. It also directed planting of 100 new trees for each tree felled by the DDA.