Felling of trees: HC notice to Delhi government

The Delhi High Court Wednesday further stayed the felling of trees on a road in Vasant Kunj locality of south-west Delhi to facilitate the proposed widening of a major road.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who had earlier asked the Public Works Department (PWD) not to cut any trees on the road, Wednesday directed it to maintain status quo after residents objected to cutting of trees as it would shrink the green space, and add to more traffic and chaos.

The court's direction came after residents contended that as per the plan of Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) cutting of only 226 trees has been approved, while the PWD took permission to cut 810 trees.

The court issued notice to UTTIPEC, forest department and PWD and sought their response by Feb 19. It also asked UTTIPEC and the forest department to produce plans and keep all the records available before the next date of hearing.

The stretch of road in question, where the trees would have to be felled for the task of widening by the Delhi government's PWD, extends from Andheria Mod to Fortis Hospital crossing.

Bindu Kapurea and other local residents, who moved the high court, said they did not oppose the widening of the road but maintained that there may be instances where trees in certain sections could be saved and may not be interfering with the road-widening project.