Top court halts tree felling in Delhi’s ridge area, sends contempt notice to CPWD

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 9, 2024 18:27 IST

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices and sought the personal presence of the CPWD Director General on May 14 in contempt petitions alleging felling of trees within Buddha Jayanti Park in the central ridge area, and the construction of a road through the southern ridge.

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, deals with the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, flyovers and other complicated structures for the central government.

According to the petition, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has violated the explicit orders of the Supreme Court by permitting the felling of trees in the protected zone.

A bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, besides issuing contempt of court notices, also ordered the authorities that no felling of trees should happen, and the director should maintain the status quo at the site in question.

Justice Oka further said that if the court was satisfied, it would call for replanting the trees in the area.

During the brief hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner, told the bench, "This is a contempt case. The central and south ridge is the only green area available for Delhi. How can cutting be done without the leave of this court?"

At this, Justice Oka said, "They are taking the law into their own hands."

Rohtagi further added, "This is the only green lung left in Delhi, apart from the Lodhi Gardens. If you keep cutting just to widen some roads, then what will happen? This time, the CPWD is responsible for felling of trees. Time has come to examine the constitutionality of the Ridge Management Board."

Last month, another bench of the top court issued a contempt notice to the DDA Vice-Chairman for the unauthorised felling of over 1,000 trees to build an approach road between Chattarpur Road and SAARC University near Maidan Garhi.