NGT slaps fine on officials of horticulture department

Pulling up the city horticulture department for failure to plant 2,000 saplings for cutting down 216 trees in a Northeast Delhi colony, the National Green Tribunal has slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 each on two officials for non-compliance of its orders.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, which had ordered the department to plant 2000 trees in Yamuna Vihar here on May 5, slapped the fine on the chief engineer and director of Delhi government's horticulture department to be recovered from their salaries.
"We may notice that chief engineer had made a statement that he would plant 2,000 trees and accordingly order was passed on May 5, 2016. However, nothing has been done so far.

"We impose costs of Rs 10,000 each upon chief engineer and director of the horticulture department. The cost shall be recovered from their salary of month of July," the bench said.
During the hearing, the Executive Engineer gave an undertaking that it would plant 2,000 trees within two weeks and its videography would be carried out.
The matter was then listed for next hearing on August 1.

The tribunal had earlier restrained the city government from felling trees till further directions and directed filing of a contempt petition against it for defying its orders.
The direction came during the hearing of a plea by advocate S D Windlesh who had alleged that in a service lane of four square metres in a Yamuna Vihar colony, the PWD had cut nearly 400 trees without permission to widen the road.

The plea had said the service lane had a 15 metre-long lush green belt of trees which attracted residents in the mornings for walking, jogging and enjoying fresh air, but all of it was detroyed.