1,100 trees axed in Ridge: Delhi govt committee visits site, claims evidence erased

When asked for comment, the DDA did not respond.

Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who is part of the committee, said, “Despite the Supreme Court’s order to stop such activities, there are bulldozers present and clear signs of work being carried out. It is possible to find the number of trees cut by the remnants of roots and trunks. To hide this deliberate uprooting, soil layering is being done.”

When The Indian Express visited the spot, it found a few bulldozers and tree stumps. The soil had also been levelled.

The Supreme Court is hearing a contempt petition against DDA Vice-Chairman Subhashish Panda for illegally felling trees in violation of its directions.

Last week, the apex court had asked the DDA Vice-Chairman to inform it whether Lt-Governor V K Saxena had visited the site and directed the cutting of trees. The bench cited the report of an Enquiry Committee, set up by the DDA, to investigate who ordered the tree felling.

It said emails sent purportedly by the executive engineer to the contractor showed that the Lt-Governor had given the order but the engineer denied sending the emails. The next SC hearing is scheduled for July 12, the day before the hearing committee has been asked to submit its report.

Bharadwaj, meanwhile, said instead of clearing trees in the protected forest area, land of the nearby farmhouses could have been acquired for the project. He went on to accuse the DDA of allegedly conspiring with farmhouse owners, alleging that the road expansion could benefit them by “crores of rupees”.

Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi, also on the panel, pointed to a possible alleged role of officers to protect higher-ups. She claimed, “It is concerning that… officers are constantly making excuses, not submitting papers, and failing to attend meetings. It is clear that their higher-ups are directing them.”

Atishi also assured that the committee will submit its findings in a report before the top court. “Who will take care of the interests of the people of Delhi if trees are cut illegally under the supervision of the highest authority?… We will present the report of the Fact-Finding Committee before the Supreme Court. We hope that strict action be taken against whoever has done the wrong,” she said.

The Aam Aadmi Party, in a statement, also blamed the L-G for his alleged role in directing the DDA to illegally cut the trees.

Delhi has 19,500 hectares of forest cover amounting to 13.15% of the state’s geographical area, according to the Indian State Forest Report (ISFR) 2021. In this, the Southern Ridge covers around 6,200 hectares.