In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has, today, issued Notices to the Government of NCT Delhi, MOEFCC, Min of Housing & Urban Affairs, DDA, MCD, NDMC, CPWD, PWD, Delhi Biodiversity Council, Delhi Parks & Gardens Society, ASI, NHAI & CPCB, on a PIL, inter alia, seeking an SIT probe or an independent inquiry committee to ascertain the numbers and kinds of tree saplings planted in Delhi in last 5 yrs, the costs incurred thereon and survival thereof and directions to the MOEFCC to all planting agencies to issue further directions U/s 5 of EPA Act, to necessarily maintain all fresh/compensatory Plantations for a min period of 8-10 yrs.
In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has, today, issued Notices to the Government of NCT Delhi, MOEFCC, Min of Housing & Urban Affairs, DDA, MCD, NDMC, CPWD, PWD, Delhi Biodiversity Council, Delhi Parks & Gardens Society, ASI, NHAI & CPCB, on a PIL, inter alia, seeking an SIT probe or an independent inquiry committee to ascertain the numbers and kinds of tree saplings planted in Delhi in last 5 yrs, the costs incurred thereon and survival thereof and directions to the MOEFCC to all planting agencies to issue further directions U/s 5 of EPA Act, to necessarily maintain all fresh/compensatory Plantations for a min period of 8-10 yrs.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed the aforesaid authorities to file replies on the Writ Petition moved on behalf of environmentalist Diwan Singh, raising the issue of bulk/single day Plantations conducted by govt agencies, which are ecologically inconsequential and biodiversity discouraging in the capital, witnessing alarming pollution levels, and which are being done to merely achieve numerical targets and publicize achievements.
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The petition further raised the issue of severe scarcity of land available for plantations (due to various factors stated in the WP), the erroneous manner of plantations done extremely close to each other, which doesn’t result in developed canopies, heights and are unable to absorb pollution, apart from the lack of maintenance in the initial years of plantation, leading to high mortality.
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Appearing for the petitioner, Akash Vashishtha, Advocate, argued that none of the agencies conducted plantations were maintaining proper records regarding the species, numbers, exact areas, geotagged locations, costs involved and survival etc.
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“The CAG report highlights the blatant irregularities and the virtually defunct Delhi Tree Authority.”
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“No information pertaining to the plantations are made publically available on their websites, not allowing a common citizen to view such an important information and participate or to provide feedback,” Mr. Vashishtha told the court
“The grim survival rate is primarily because of the wrong method, single-day bulk plantations. Invasive species are planted instead of native ones which is destroying the city’s biodiversity,” Mr. Vashishtha apprised the court.
