Delhi HC to govt: Explain how you allow felling of trees

The policy of the forest department seems to be in conflict with the comments by the ICFRE, which, in an e-mail sent to the environment department, has said that old trees continue to absorb carbon. Though the rate of absorption decreases with age, the overall carbon balance remains positive, said the Dehradun-based institute.

The submissions were made during a hearing on a PIL, taken up suo motu by the Delhi High Court last year, on the issue of air pollution in the capital.

[related-post]

During the earlier hearing, on February 10, Conservator of Forests A K Shukla and Deputy Conservator of Forests Tarun Johri had defended the department’s decision to allow felling of tree. After they said “old trees” became “net carbon dioxide generators” after a certain age, the court had asked for “scientific data” on the issue.

On Thursday, Delhi government’s Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra read out the comments by the ICFRE, sent to the environment department in response to a query made by the forest department.

The bench of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, in its order, noted that the statement given in the earlier hearing was “not correct” and asked Mehra to explain how the incorrect statements had been made.

The bench also asked the forest department to place on affidavit the steps being taken under the Delhi Protection of Trees Act on the felling of trees and the process by which permissions are granted for it. It has also sought a report on the steps taken for demarcation and conservation of forests in the capital by April 7.