Ensure no further encroachment in forests: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the city government and its authorities to ensure there was no further encroachment in forests in Delhi.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva also appointed Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary Chetan Sangi to supervise and report to the court about the action taken against encroachment into forest areas.

He was asked to file a status report within four weeks.

The court's direction came after it was informed that the green cover here in was shrinking due to rampant illegal construction. The court took into note that as per an aerial photograph of Delhi, there was rapid deforestation and decline in tree cover which has contributed to air pollution in the city.

The bench made it clear that if it finds out that forest areas have been encroached upon despite its orders, then official or authority concerned shall be held responsible for the same.

The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it on its own on the issue of increasing air pollution in Delhi. It has posted the matter's next hearing for November 27.