How Could Saplings Replace Trees, Asks Delhi High Court On Tree Felling

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The felling of nearly 2000 trees has been indefinitely put on hold
16,500 trees to build multi-storey accommodation for proposed redevelopment of six South Delhi colonies was akin to leaving the city to
die.The high court prohibited the authorities from cutting down or taking away trees till July 26, the next date of hearing on a plea
against felling of trees for housing projects and asked whether any environment impact assessment was carried out before initiating the
work."If Delhi needs that they (buildings) be dismantled, they will be dismantled
You can't leave the city to die like this," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said.It also asked why
everyone needs to be given space in the Lutyens' Delhi when the peripherals of the national capital have so much of vacant land, and added
"the mantra is decongestion"
The court said the authorities should develop colonies like Narela.Taking note of a submission that Delhi was running out of ground water,
the court asked the Centre and the city government how they propose to water the saplings which are going to replace fully grown trees under
the compensatory afforestation policy."Delhi government shall explain how a fully grown tree could be equated with 10 saplings How long a
sapling will take to grow as a tree
Delhi was earlier known for its bird population," the bench said.It also questioned the Centre on its redevelopment scheme, asking how
permission was given to change a two-storeyed building, meant for two families, into an eight-storeyed building."What do you mean by
redevelopment
This is your scheme
Replacing a two-storeyed building with an eight-floor building, this is what you call redevelopment," the bench said."From where do you get
water for such eight-floor buildings What amount of garbage will be generated Where is parking and what about air pollution You don't apply
you mind to planning," the bench said.The counsel, appearing for the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), tasked with
redeveloping half a dozen south Delhi colonies, claimed that no garbage was going out of the construction site.The court was also of the
opinion that the construction was an impediment for ambulances and patients in reaching the two super speciality hospitals -- AIIMS and
Safdarjung -- in the area."There will be traffic jam at the main gate of the colonies
Two major hospitals are at the intersection
How will people reach AIIMS and Safdarjung hospital You must have done an Environment Impact Assessment
Show it to us," it said.It also sought to know the density of the area and said that after laying infrastructure including road, water,
electricity, garbage system, macro-level planning is done."How can you amend the master plan retrospectively after developing a colony," the
Lutyens' Delhi when the peripherals of Delhi have so much of vacant land and added "the mantra is decongestion".The court granted time to
Ministries of Environment and Forest and Housing, the Delhi government, NBCC, DDA, Delhi Jal Board, NDMC and other authorities to file their
response on the petition which has sought setting aside of the terms of reference (ToR) and Environmental Clearance (EC) granted to the
housing project by the Environment Ministry, claiming it would lead to felling of over 16,500 trees.The bench also sought details as to how
much space has been given for commercial activities.The court said there was a need for the presence of experts related to these issues and
appointed environmentalist M C Mehta as amicus curiae in the matter.Delhi government standing counsel told the court that the government has
started the process of revoking and reviewing the permission granted to cut trees for the projects.The court was hearing a PIL by
orthopaedic surgeon Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra against felling of trees for housing projects in six south Delhi colonies -- Sarojini Nagar,
Naoroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Thyagaraja Nagar, Mohammadpur and Kasturba Nagar.A similar issue is also pending before the National Green
Tribunal (NGT).The petition has claimed that planting of saplings in another location as compensatory afforestation would not reduce the
burden which would be put on the environment due to the large-scale felling of trees.It has claimed that saplings would be a "poor
substitute" for the fully grown trees that would be felled for the housing projects.The court also sought response of the authorities on a
contempt plea filed by environmentalist Vimlendu Jha alleging that there was deliberate and willful default of June 25 undertaking given to
the court by the NBCC not to cut trees till July 4 for housing projects.