New Delhi, June 26 (PTI): The Delhi High Court has issued several directives to ensure the effective enforcement of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the felling and transplantation of trees in the city.
Justice Jasmeet Singh highlighted the rights of Delhi's residents, as outlined under Article 21 of the Constitution, to live in a clean and pollution-free environment. The court emphasized the need for the deputy conservator of forest (DCF) or the tree officer to be involved from the planning stage of any project that involves tree felling or transplantation. Moreover, the compensatory plantation must include trees that are a minimum of 6 feet in height, have spent five years in the nursery, and possess a collar girth of at least 10 cm.
The court instructed that applicants requesting permission to fell trees must submit an affidavit, pledging to maintain the planted trees for five years, which includes watering and general upkeep.
Additionally, trees slated for transplantation should not undergo excessive pruning. The authorities, particularly the tree officer, must consider various aspects: the number of tree felling applications for a project, the project's environmental impact, alternative site availability, neighborhood green cover, the age of trees, and the ecosystems they support, alongside the feasibility of successful tree transplantation.
The court specified that the SOP should align with the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act and mandated post-approval monitoring by the DCF.
This came to light during proceedings on a contempt plea regarding alleged non-compliance with judicial orders on tree preservation. The high court had earlier observed that a tree was being felled every hour in Delhi with official approval.
The plea brought up allegations that Delhi officials were not adhering to the April 2022 directives, which required tree officers to provide explicit reasons for allowing tree felling. The high court, on April 28, 2022, stated, "It would be appropriate for tree officers to carefully evaluate the potential for each tree's transplantation before permitting any further tree cutting. This involves inspecting the trees in question, and the tree officer must articulate the reasons for either granting or denying permission, accompanied by photographs of each tree."
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