Written By – Aishwarya
Justice Najmi Waziri observed that the concretization of the street was unmindful of the directions of the High Court and the NGT. This disregard was shown not only by the Municipal Corporation but also by the road maintaining agency being the Public Works Department. The Court observed that the municipal corporation allowed the callous affair to fester for years.
The Court was dealing with a plea highlighting the inaction of the respondent authorities for preservation of trees. The plea also cited non-compliance of the orders passed the High Court as well as by the National Green Tribunal.
Looking at the photographs shown by Sanjeev Sabharwal, standing counsel of SDMC, the Court was of the view that the same depicted that hundreds of trees were concretized up to the tree trunk, nails were embedded in them and metallic wires were strung along the trees, which was an evident “victimization of the trees”.
Advocate Aditya N Prasad appearing for the petitioner submitted that a complaint was made under the Delhi Tree Preservation Act, 1994, to the Tree Officer in December 2020 regarding victimisation of trees and illegal activities, however, the Court was informed that instead of taking any action, notice was issued to the President of Vasant Vihar Welfare Association.
It was also submitted that such issuance of notice was without complete application of mind because the Association was in fact involved in preserving the trees in the said colony.
“Surely, the efforts of the Residents‟ Welfare Association apropos preserving the ecology of the area should be encouraged,” the Court said.
Court listed the matter for further hearing on November 15.
