The National Green Tribunal, India’s top most environmental court, has issued notices to the central government, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Delhi Development authority in a case filed by an NGO against the move to cut about 15,000 trees in residential areas.
The issuing of notice indicates that the tribunal is seized of the matter and it is now likely to proceed to hear the matter in detail.
The case was filed by NGO Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions & Promotion of National Awareness, led by Anil Sood.
It said the move to cut the trees in localities such as Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Srinivaspuri and Mohammadpur will impact Delhi’s ecology further.
It pointed out that Delhi already suffers from one of the world’s poorest air quality levels, with deadly implications for the health of its citizens.
The NGO had filed the petition against the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the CPWD and others government bodies.
The move to cut the trees has already been challenged before the Delhi High Court, which has imposed a stay on the move till Wednesday, when it will hear the matter again.