The Delhi High Court on Wednesday noted that the “magnitude” of trees cut down by the DMRC and PWD for various projects has enabled air pollution to increase in the national Capital and has therefore sought reports from them and the city government on where the replantation of trees were being carried out and exactly how much has been done since 2010.
It also observed that the notified green cover, which as per authorities was supposed to be 30 per cent had fallen to 10.2 per cent in 2009 and may be much lower at present and sought an action plan from Delhi and the Central government to restore it.
A bench of justices, Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva made the observation and issued the direction after perusing the report submitted by amicus curiae Kailash Vasudev, who told the court that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Public Works Department (PWD) have chopped down over one lakh fully grown trees during the past eight years.
The amicus also told the court that two-wheelers, which account for about two-thirds of the total vehicular population in Delhi were the highest contributors to air pollution and not buses or trucks as they run on two-stroke engines, which do not use catalytic convertors. The court, however, refused to pass any order on this submission saying it “does not want to take any knee jerk action” and wants to study all aspects of the issue. “We do not want uncoordinated or unplanned steps being taken left right and centre as is happening now,” the court said and added that it is calling for the reports of tree replantation from the authorities to verify the works being done. “There is no point of cutting down trees of one area and carrying out the replantion elsewhere,” it said and listed the matter for further hearing on April 24.
It also observed that the notified green cover, which as per authorities was supposed to be 30 per cent had fallen to 10.2 per cent in 2009 and may be much lower at present and sought an action plan from Delhi and the Central government to restore it.
A bench of justices, Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva made the observation and issued the direction after perusing the report submitted by amicus curiae Kailash Vasudev, who told the court that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Public Works Department (PWD) have chopped down over one lakh fully grown trees during the past eight years.
The amicus also told the court that two-wheelers, which account for about two-thirds of the total vehicular population in Delhi were the highest contributors to air pollution and not buses or trucks as they run on two-stroke engines, which do not use catalytic convertors. The court, however, refused to pass any order on this submission saying it “does not want to take any knee jerk action” and wants to study all aspects of the issue. “We do not want uncoordinated or unplanned steps being taken left right and centre as is happening now,” the court said and added that it is calling for the reports of tree replantation from the authorities to verify the works being done. “There is no point of cutting down trees of one area and carrying out the replantion elsewhere,” it said and listed the matter for further hearing on April 24.