NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of a TOI report, National Green Tribunal has issued a notice to secretary, ministry of defence; principal chief conservator of forests and vice-chairman, Delhi Development Authority, in a matter related to tree cutting while clearing 8.7 hectares on the Central Ridge.
TOI carried a report on December 18, 2023, that the forest department claimed that trees were cut in violation of Delhi Preservation of Tree Act 1994, Forest Conservation Act 1980 and Indian Forest Act 1927 and it had issued a notice to Quarter Master General, Army Headquarter.
“The news item discloses a substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms,” said the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava. The matter was heard on January 8, but the order’s copy was shared on Wednesday.
TOI had earlier reported that the forest department in its notice said, “A report has been received regarding clearing of trees at Central Ridge, whereas it has been observed with periodical analysis of Google Earth images that an area of approximately 8.7 Ha has been cleared, the same is a violation of Forest Conservation Act 1980”.
The notice had directed Quarter Master General, Army Headquarter, to furnish the report on why a complaint should not be filed against him or her for the offence. It added that on May 24, 1994, the Central Ridge has been declared a reserve forest under Section 4 of Indian Forest Act, 1927.
The Army had then said, “The Army is ascertaining the details of the violation highlighted in the area at Central Ridge by the department of forests and wildlife. Necessary action as per existing policy will be taken.
“Army follows an institutionalised mechanism of ‘Watch and Ward’ of all land parcels and safeguarding of trees. For tree felling in the construction zone of new projects undertaken by the Army, NOC is obtained from forest department and transplantation as well as compensatory afforestation is carried out strictly as per Tree Transplantation Policy 2020. For construction projects of the army currently in progress, the required approvals have been taken,” the Army statement had said.
TOI carried a report on December 18, 2023, that the forest department claimed that trees were cut in violation of Delhi Preservation of Tree Act 1994, Forest Conservation Act 1980 and Indian Forest Act 1927 and it had issued a notice to Quarter Master General, Army Headquarter.
“The news item discloses a substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms,” said the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava. The matter was heard on January 8, but the order’s copy was shared on Wednesday.
TOI had earlier reported that the forest department in its notice said, “A report has been received regarding clearing of trees at Central Ridge, whereas it has been observed with periodical analysis of Google Earth images that an area of approximately 8.7 Ha has been cleared, the same is a violation of Forest Conservation Act 1980”.
The notice had directed Quarter Master General, Army Headquarter, to furnish the report on why a complaint should not be filed against him or her for the offence. It added that on May 24, 1994, the Central Ridge has been declared a reserve forest under Section 4 of Indian Forest Act, 1927.
The Army had then said, “The Army is ascertaining the details of the violation highlighted in the area at Central Ridge by the department of forests and wildlife. Necessary action as per existing policy will be taken.
“Army follows an institutionalised mechanism of ‘Watch and Ward’ of all land parcels and safeguarding of trees. For tree felling in the construction zone of new projects undertaken by the Army, NOC is obtained from forest department and transplantation as well as compensatory afforestation is carried out strictly as per Tree Transplantation Policy 2020. For construction projects of the army currently in progress, the required approvals have been taken,” the Army statement had said.