Delhi High Court to physically inspect Central, Southern Ridge forest to assess afforestation, trees felling

Justice Singh then directed that on July 17 advocate Gautam Narayan, the amicus curiae appointed in the matter, counsels appearing for the Delhi government, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, along with the Principal Secretary of Delhi government’s department of environment and forests, and the additional principal chief conservator of forests to meet him at 11 am in his chamber in the high court after which they are to proceed for a “physical inspection”.

Delhi Ridge, which is divided into Northern, Southern, South Central and Central Ridges, serves as the green lungs of the city.

The HC said that by July 15, the amicus curiae shall give an advance copy of the areas wherein large scale felling of trees is stated to have happened and Delhi government’s counsel shall also provide the details of the areas where large scale afforestation has taken place.

The matter is next listed on July 19.

Notably, the High Court in December last year restrained the Delhi government’s forest department from holding a proposed event — ‘Walk with Wildlife’ — inside the city’s Asola Bhatti Wildlife, located in the Southern Ridge, after noting that the department gave permission for the event in a “mechanical manner”.

The HC had said that there was no analysis of the threat perception to the “people, the animals and the Sanctuary”.

The court said that the event which was proposed to be held on December 9 and 10, 2023, had the “trappings of it turning out to be a misadventure as the location of the animals are unknown, their area of movement is not isolated, the certainty with regard to number and species are guesswork and there appears to be no plan in place”.

In another matter, the HC had said in May this year that the Central Ridge “our green heritage” and it cannot be allowed to degenerate by felling trees when the city is grappling with rising pollution levels. The HC was hearing a contempt plea pertaining to tree plantation in Delhi and the well-being of the Ridge forest.