In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court announced that it would not allow the felling of trees in the city’s ‘Central Ridge Forest’ while the national capital writhes under alarming pollution, and labelled the forests as the city’s “green heritage” while hearing a contempt plea on tree plantation in Delhi and the well-being of the Ridge forest.
In the May 6 order, a single-judge bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna observed, “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.”
The HC mentioned that it had been disturbed by the images of soil turning black – depicting the burning of the area in the Central Ridge. Demarcating it as a “very serious state of affairs,” the HC categorically mentioned that not a single tree should be felled without its prior consent. Calling for an action taken report in the matter, the HC listed the case on May 24th while demanding the Deputy Conservator of Forest (West division) to appear before it through the virtual mode.
