The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has established a panel to investigate the alleged excessive pruning of trees in Paschim Vihar, west Delhi, following concerns over environmental compliance and unauthorized tree cutting activities.
During a session on Monday, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, responded to a plea indicating that over 250 trees were subjected to illegal lopping and more than 20 trees were heavily pollarded in an unauthorized manner across several blocks of the area between February and March.
The bench highlighted the complaint’s allegations of a possible collusion between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), forest department officials, and private contractors. These entities are accused of heavily cutting trees under the guise of routine pruning. The applicant also suggested that the involved officials often absented themselves during the contractors’ operations, thus evading direct accountability.
In light of the serious nature of the allegations, the NGT formed a joint committee comprising representatives from the inspector general (IG) of forest of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, member secretaries of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), along with the district magistrate of north Delhi. This committee is tasked with visiting the site, verifying the allegations, and identifying those responsible for the improper tree cutting, in violation of a 2023 Delhi High Court order that restricts such activities under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act.
The tribunal also underscored the complaint’s reference to an earlier court order, stressing the significance of adhering to established environmental norms. Respondents to the case include the MCD, the Delhi government’s environment, forest and wildlife departments, the deputy director of horticulture, Delhi Police headquarters, and three resident welfare associations.
The joint committee is expected to consider photographs and geo-coordinates provided in the original application during their site inspection. They will also oversee the management of the wood logs cut during the pruning process.
