No damage done to trees at Najafgarh construction site: DMRC to NGT after Forest dept’s notice
As per the Delhi High Court’s order in 2023, any permission for important projects needs to be intimated to the court
3 min read
A Forest Department photo shows damage to a tree at the Najafgarh terminalEven as the Delhi Forest Department issued a notice recently to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation over the alleged damage to several trees in Najafgargh amid the construction of a DTC bus terminal, the DMRC has maintained that no such damage has been done in the area while executing the development work. The issue of contention emerged in submissions to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) made on February 28. The details were shared publicly on the official NGT website on Monday.
The submissions are related to a matter of an alleged encroachment on a part of a water body in Najafgarh by the Delhi Transport Department to construct the bus terminal and a multi-storey commercial building. The last hearing by the Green Tribunal was held on January 20, and the next hearing is due on Tuesday.
The Forest Department had conducted an inspection in the area following the last NGT hearing. In an inspection report dated February 18, it was noted, “On the site (where) the construction work was going on, trees were harmed by JCB and also they were having cut marks of axe on them. One tree was concretised, ten pruned, and one tree was felled and had a damaged bud, which is an offence under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994.”
According to the inspection report by the West Forest Division, 13 trees were found to be affected. An offence was registered under Section 31 of the DPTA,. A notice was subsequently issued to the DMRC on February 20.
Both the Forest Department and the DMRC, in their respective submissions to NGT, maintained that a previous application for approval for the transplantation of as many as 39 trees at the DTC bus terminal site is still pending. “No damage is caused to the said 39 trees while executing the development work,” stated the DMRC
As per the Delhi High Court’s order in 2023, any permission for important projects needs to be intimated to the court.
Regarding the matter of alleged encroachment upon a wetland, the DMRC informed the tribunal that the matter doesn’t come under its purview. It said it was appointed as the executing agency to carry out the development activity of the bus terminal as per a memorandum of understanding, and the work was handed over in January last year.
Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director at the DMRC, told The Indian Express, “Provisions are made for the plantation of 10 trees for each tree that is cut. In addition, the transplantation of trees is also done as per the laid down procedure. Since this matter is subjudice, we shall not be able to elaborate further right now. However, we shall definitely re-ascertain the situation on the ground and take necessary measures as needed.”
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