The Delhi High Court on Wednesday called for the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) involving the Delhi Government’s forest department in the planning stage of infrastructure projects, before permission for felling trees as a last resort is given.
The High Court was hearing a plea concerning permissions granted by tree officers for the felling of trees without passing speaking orders.
Observing that “we should coexist with nature”, a single judge bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh said, “With the consent of the parties, it is directed that Mr (Aditya) Prasad (petitioner’s counsel) along with amicus curiae and the responsible officers including the counsel for the respondents will draft an SOP with regard to (a) prior permission for construction in Delhi which will involve cutting of trees…and (b) for every infrastructure project, the department of forest will be involved in the planning stage so that every possible effort is made for saving the tree and only if it is inevitable, the permission for felling of tree as a last resort would be given”.
Justice Singh also said the SOP should also deal with the requirement of grant of permission at the stage of sanctioning of plans involving individual construction.
The court also asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to file an affidavit stating its stand concerning the alleged felling of trees in Southern Ridge, for constructing an approach road from Chattarpur Road to SAARC University, CAPFIMS, and other places near Maidan Garhi.
The matter is next listed on March 18.
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First uploaded on: 07-03-2024 at 10:04 IST