NGT seeks details of afforestation around Siri Fort complex

The National Green Tribunal today directed Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to place on record details of plantation work done by it as per recommendations of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) around the Siri Fort complex in south Delhi.
"We direct the DDA to place on record as to where and what plantation on account of afforestation was done, the extent thereof and survival rate of the species planted. This chart should be filed within two weeks from today," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The directions came while hearing a plea by activist T N Godavarman Thirumalpad which was transferred from the Supreme Court to the green panel.

The counsel appearing for Thirumalpad alleged that DDA "butchered" 8,400 trees without taking prior clearance from the authorities around the complex and CEC had recommended imposition of a fine of Rs 5 crore on the authority besides planting trees as rehabilitation and restoration cost.
"The recommendations were accepted by the Supreme Court," he said.
Advocates Rajiv Bansal and Kush Sharma, appearing for DDA, however, said that the CEC report was not accepted by the apex court in totality.

Sharma said that DDA has already planted more than 8,000 trees at four different locations.
To this the bench said, "DDA shall file a comparative chart showing the recommendations made by the CEC, whether they were accepted by the Supreme Court of India fully with reference to the order of the Supreme Court of India and the work executed or done by the DDA."

The matter is listed for next hearing on January 5.
During Commonwealth Games held in 2010, DDA allegedly felled trees around the Siri Fort complex for constructing basketball and squash courts.
The Supreme Court-appointed Charles Correa committee had also found major lacunae in the design, planning and construction of the basketball and squash courts, which involved cutting of a large number of trees in the Siri Fort forest area.