The Delhi High Court on Monday banned the cutting down of over 16,500 trees for redevelopment of six south Delhi colonies by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) till July 4.
A Bench of Justices Vinod Goel and Rekha Palli directed the NBCC not to cut trees till July 4, the next date of hearing and also permitted the petitioner to challenge the orders passed by the department giving permission to cut trees for these residential projects.
“You know the effect it would have. I understand if it was widening of road or something inevitable. Can Delhi afford it today,” the Bench remarked.
The petitioner, an orthopaedic surgeon, has sought the setting aside of the terms of reference and the environment clearances (EC) granted to the project by the Environment Ministry, saying it would lead to the felling of over 16,500 trees.
The six south Delhi colonies where the trees would be felled are Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Thyagaraja Nagar, Mohammadpur and Kasturba Nagar, the petition by Dr. Kaushal Kant Mishra said.