Delhi tree chopping: HC directs NBCC not to cut any trees till July 4

The Delhi High Court has directed the NBCC to not cut any more trees in the national capital until July 4 – the next date of hearing the case. The NGT will separately hear the matter. 

Taking note of the views expressed by the court which appeared inclined to order an interim stay of the tree chopping process, the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), tasked with redeveloping half a dozen south Delhi colonies, agreed not to cut any tree till July 4.

The NBCC made the statement after a vacation bench of Justices Vinod Goel and Rekha Palli asked,"Can Delhi today afford cutting down of so many trees for a housing complex? We could understand if it was a road-widening work which is inevitable." It initially asked NBCC to "stay its hands" till July 2 when a similar issue would be heard by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and asked the petitioner, an orthopaedic surgeon, to approach the tribunal.

The court's observations came after the NBCC said the NGT had the jurisdiction to hear pleas challenging environment clearances (EC) granted to any project by the Centre.

NBCC, represented by senior advocate J P Seng, told the court that it has also deposited Rs eight crore with the tree authority for permission to fell trees.

Central government standing counsel Ripudaman Bhardwaj, appearing for ministries of Environment and Housing, said the ECs given by the Centre were in accordance with the earlier orders of the NGT.

However, the petitioner's lawyer told the bench that the matter also involved permission given in November last year by the tree authority of the Delhi government to fell the trees and this decision cannot be challenged in the NGT.

Thereafter, the court gave the petitioner, Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra, time till July 4 to amend his plea and challenge the tree authority's decision.

Since the court appeared inclined to give an interim order till the next date, NBCC made a statement that no tree will be felled till then. The court also made the tree authority of Delhi government a party in the matter.

The PIL has sought setting aside of the terms of reference (ToR) and EC granted to the project by the Environment Ministry, saying it would lead to felling of over 16,500 trees.

AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the party 'welcomed' the court's move. "AAP welcomes the decision of Hon'ble HC to stay any further felling of trees in Central Govt's VIP housing project at Delhi. It was a day light mass murder to fell 17000 trees," he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, an advocate representing the Delhi government appeared before the high court pleading that the persmissions of tree cutting should be revisited. "The Delhi Govt advocate had clear instructions from Minister to ask for stay on any further tree felling," Bharadwaj added.

On the request of the Delhi government, the tree authority of the Delhi government has been made party. "Elected Govt of Delhi will oppose this  Central Govt's project tooth and nail. Central Govt should scrap this project, the AAP MLA added.

A number of people have gone up in arms after reports that 17,000 trees were going to be chopped down to redevelop seven colonies in South Delhi.

"Can Delhi afford cutting of trees for the development of roads & buildings?” the High Court asked NBCC, the body that has been given the contract of redeveloping these colonies in the national capital.

According to NBCC officials, this uprooting of the trees is a temporary set back as they'll be replanting 10 times the number of tress felled.

"Every development plan's initiation has a cost to be paid. We do not plan to ruin the greenery of our country at any cost. We have started the replantation process as well. Our only motive is the redevelopment of these quarters in South Delhi which are in substandard conditions. This cutting of trees is a minor setback in the development which will be totally taken care of by growing 10 times more trees that are being slashed down. We assure that, in the long run the plan will only yield positive results. Talking about the residents' relocation, we are working hard every hour so that quarters can be provided to them without much difficulties." said an NBCC official.

On Sunday, a mass agitation entitled 'Hug a tree campaign' was held near the Sarojini Nagar Police Station on Sunday questioning the central government's decision to axe as many as 16,500 trees from various areas of the national Capital for the execution of seven major housing projects.

The campaign is an initiative by Prerna Prasad, who approached masses through a WhatsApp group with a single-minded approach to save trees from being felled. The group involved members from every section of the society including students, environmental activists, educationalist and officials from various non-governmental organisation working for the improvement of the environment.

With PTI Inputs