Only 293 trees to be cut for widening Vasant Kunj road:HC told

The Delhi High Court today directed the PWD to commence work on widening of a road in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj area on the directions given by an environmentalist who has said only 293 trees need to be cut as of now instead of the initial figure of 810.
"For the time PWD can work on these directions (of environmentalist) till an order is passed," Justice Rajiv Shakdher said.
The court also said it will incorporate the directions given by environmentalist Sunita Narain who was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter.
Narain in her report has said that of the initial number of 810 trees, to cut which PWD had obtained permission from forest department, now only 293 trees need to be cut.

She also said some of the remaining trees can be cut at a later stage, if required, and for which PWD can obtain fresh approval from forest department.
The additional trees, around 446, may be cut in the future if the streets of the area are used for vehicular movement.

PWD, in the report, assured that it would try to not use the 'shared streets' for vehicular movement and would try to maintain the trees there as a green buffer.
Around 298 trees would not be required to be felled at all, as per the report which has also said the buffer zone would not be used for dumping garbage.

Meanwhile, PWD told the court that it would be seeking refund of the Rs 28,000 per tree deposited by it while seeking permission to cut 810 trees. Refund would be sought for the trees that would not be cut, it said.
Narain said it was a justified demand of PWD.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Vasant Kunj resident Bindu Kapurea, challenging a January 5 decision of the appellate authority on preservation of trees' which had upheld the Deputy Conservator of Forests' decision to permit removal of over 800 trees from the area to facilitate widening of a road from Andheria Modh to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj.