Delhi govt submits satellite images of Sainik Farms in HC

The AAP government today placed before the Delhi High Court high resolution satellite images of Sainik Farms for the years of 2011, 2014 and 2015 to enable the court to find out if any unauthorised constructions took place there during the period from 2007 to 2016.
The Delhi government, however, expressed reservation in sharing the images with private parties, saying these contained sensitive details regarding an army base there and could also help "terrorists" in finding places to hide.
For the years for which no satellite image was available, a report prepared by Geo Spatial Delhi Ltd (GSDL) regarding new constructions in the area would be filed, the government told a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Jayant Nath.

Regarding the government's reservation in sharing the images, the bench remarked that Google maps, which shows a satellite view of the area, was accessible to all.
The court, thereafter, said it needs to first peruse the images and the report and listed the matter for hearing on November 23.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO alleging illegal construction in Sainik Farms.

Meanwhile, a resident welfare association of the colony said that materials connected to weddings as well as household articles like furniture, were not being allowed inside Sainik Farms and sought a clarification from the court that such items be permitted inside.

They contended that the materials were being taken inside large vehicles and these were denied entry on the basis of court orders.
The bench, however, refused to pass any order clarifying its directions.
The court on November 11 had asked the Delhi government to expedite the process of getting high resolution satellite maps of the posh Sainik Farms colony from 2007-2016 to ascertain whether there have been unauthorised constructions there from 2007 onwards in violation of its order halting construction in the area.
It had asked for the images as it did not "trust" the corporation's affidavit on extent of unauthorised construction in the colony and had said that SDMC was "trying to cover up" and its report, submitted to the court, was "an eyewash".

The court had said that after comparing the maps with Google images for the same period, it would point out changes and unauthorised constructions and will give time to SDMC to "come clean" and warned that if no action was taken thereafter, "then we will order a CBI probe".