No tree felled after HC order, claims NBCC

Soon after a contempt plea was filed against it in the Delhi High Court for allegedly violating the undertaking to not cut trees till July 4 for housing projects, the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) said that it has not cut any tree and has issued a directive to all its contractors regarding the same.

According to NBCC, a directive has been issued to all its contractors to not cut trees in any of its redevelopment projects in South Delhi colonies of Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar in line with undertaking given by it in the Delhi High Court on June 25 not to cut tree till July 4.

“We have instructed all contractors carrying out redevelopment of three colonies in Delhi by NBCC not to cut any trees. In the event of any breach by any individual or contractor, they will be held responsible for all consequential damages arising there from including contempt of Court,” the NBCC spokesperson said.

The High Court had on June 25 asked how the national Capital could afford the felling of over 16,500 trees for a housing project. Taking note of the views expressed by the court which appeared inclined to order an interim stay of the tree chopping process, the NBCC had agreed not to cut any tree till July 4.

The NBCC had made the statement after the Bench had asked, “Can Delhi today afford cutting down of so many trees for a housing complex? We could understand if it was a road”.

NBCC said that in case any of its officials find any incidence of tree cutting, the corporation will “suo-moto” report to the authorities, including Police.

Earlier , a contempt plea was filed by environmentalist Vimlendu Jha before the Delhi High Court alleging that there was deliberate and willful default of June 25 undertaking given to the court by the NBCC, tasked with redeveloping half a dozen south Delhi colonies. It said as per the June 25 order, the alleged contemnor (NBCC CMD) had undertaken not to cut trees in areas concerned till July 4 but on Tuesday, Jha noticed that the officials and workers of NBCC were felling trees in Netaji Nagar in south Delhi.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by orthopaedic surgeon Dr KK Mishra against felling of trees for housing projects in six south Delhi colonies — Sarojini Nagar, Naoroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Thyagaraja Nagar, Mohammadpur and Kasturba Nagar.

A similar issue would be heard by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 2. The petition has claimed that planting of saplings in another location as compensatory afforestation would not reduce the burden which would be put on the environment due to the large-scale felling of trees. It has claimed that saplings would be a “poor substitute” for the fully grown trees that would be felled for the housing projects.