Central Ridge our ‘green heritage’, can’t allow its degeneration: Delhi HC

A single-judge bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna, in its May 6 order, said, “The Central Ridge cannot be allowed to be degenerated in this manner by felling trees and removing shrubs when the city is already grappling with the pressing issue of rising pollution levels, which have attained dangerous proportions. Further, it is also appalling to note that the Central Ridge, which is our green heritage, is being used as a dumping ground (for) garbage and other waste material.”

Taking note of certain photographs, the HC said it is “perturbed” after noticing that the soil had turned black, depicting burning of the area in the Central Ridge, due to which not only the trees but also the shrubs have been destroyed “leaving only vacant land”.

Calling it a “very serious state of affairs”, the HC directed the Forest Department and other local authorities to ensure that no dumping of garbage or any other waste material is carried out in the Central Ridge. It further ordered that no felling of trees or removal of shrubs and bushes will take place without the court’s permission.

“The authorities concerned are directed to forthwith take action and remove all garbage and waste material from the Central Ridge,” the HC said.

Calling for an action taken report in the matter, the HC listed the case on May 24 while directing the Deputy Conservator of Forest (West division) to appear before it through the virtual mode.

During the hearing on May 6, amici curiae, Advocates Gautam Narayan, Aditya N Prasad and Prabhsahay Kaur, said that an undertaking was given in August last year by the forest department that there will monitoring and appropriate deployment of staff to ensure there is no dumping of material in the Central Ridge. The department had also assured the court that there would be “no further felling of trees” without intimating the HC. The amici curiae said that despite this undertaking, “large-scale felling of trees and clearing of forest land is taking place in the Central Ridge” and shrubs and other flora are also being cleared up.