NGT orders removal of signs, wires, concrete from trees

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed public authorities, including municipal bodies, DDA, DTC and DMRC to ensure that sign boards, advertisements, wires and other objects that deface trees as well as concrete around them in the national capital are removed forthwith.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that there is clear infringement of law and failure on the part of the authorities concerned to discharge their statutory obligations.
It gave the direction after it was brought to the tribunal's notice that sign boards, names etc are pinned on to trees whose roots are also covered by concrete, which are violations under the Environment (Protection) Act.

"We direct all public authorities, more particularly Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure... All sign boards, names, advertisements, any kind of boards or signages, electric wires and high tension cables or otherwise are removed from trees forthwith," it said.
It asked the authorities to also ensure that concrete surrounding within one metre of the trees is removed forthwith and all the trees are looked after well.
"Due precaution is taken in future so that no concrete or construction or repairing work is done atleast within one metre radius of the tree trunks," the bench, also comprising judicial member Justice U D Salvi, said and listed the matter for further hearing on May 17.

It also directed the public authorities to ensure that "all those respondents whose boards are fixed on the trees shall be prosecuted by the respective authorities in accordance with the relevant law."

The Tribunal noted that the authorities not only failed to discharge their statutory authorities but also infringed their legal obligations arising out of the environment act.
"It is clear that all public authorities and respondents have failed to discharge their statutory obligations. They have not only violated various statues but have also infringed their legal obligations...
"It is the obligation of the State to provide healthy environment to citizens and prevent reckless injury to trees, which ultimately results in their felling. This is a clear infringement of law and failure on the part of the authorities concerned to discharge their statutory obligations," it said.