Tree deconcretisation: NGT asks DDA to conduct surprise checks

National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to conduct surprise checks to find out whether deconcretisation exercise has been carried out as per its orders to save trees in the city.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered DDA to "specifically mention" in their inspection report if any tree or its roots have been damaged due to deconcretisation of trees.
"We direct all the authorities concerned to file their report with the DDA within one week... Thereafter, DDA will conduct a surprise inspection along with Local Commissioner appointed by the Tribunal or otherwise and find out if the deconcretisation has been completed as per the methodology stated in our previous order," the bench said while posting the matter for next hearing on May 8.

The Tribunal also issued notice to an officer of Delhi Jal Board for making "incorrect statement" before it.
The DJB official had told the bench that 90 trees have been planted and they are duly protected, which was challenged by the Local Commissioner appointed in the matter.
On March 5, the green panel had directed the authorities to take urgent steps to layer the trees with soil to support their roots while carrying out deconcretisation.

It had directed that deconcretisation of trees should be carried out under the supervision of at least an officer of the rank of the Executive Engineer, supported by officers from the Horticulture Department of NCT of Delhi.

The NGT was hearing a plea by Aditya Prasad alleging that despite various orders of the tribunal, deconcretisation of the trees has not been carried out effectively.
Earlier, the Tribunal had appointed Sharan Thakur, an advocate, as local commissioner in the matter and directed him to inspect the colonies -- R K Puram, Safdarjung Development Area (SDA), Ashok Vihar and Hauz Khas -- on day-to-day basis.
It had also set up five different committees constituting of officials from different agencies including DDA, PWD and Central Public Works Department to carry out deconcretisation.