The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, and the Delhi government following allegations that mature trees are being damaged during underground metro construction in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh.
While issuing notice on the matter, Justice Jasmeet Singh cautioned the authorities against turning a blind eye to the ongoing environmental harm and remarked that agencies must restrict tree removal strictly to what is necessary. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 6 to examine the formal replies of the three respondents.
Site Impact And Environmental Damage
The proceedings stem from a petition filed by advocate Arpit Bhargava, who submitted that heavy construction activity is underway on a vacant plot owned by the DDA along Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, situated directly behind his residence. The plea stated that the DMRC’s underground construction works have damaged several mature trees in the area, specifically citing the destruction of large, longstanding peepal trees during the erection of boundary structures.
According to the petition, mechanical machinery is actively cutting and processing significant volumes of steel and iron rods at the location. These operations generate continuous clouds of dust, smoke, fumes, and particulate matter, which are settling directly onto the surrounding soil and tree canopies.
Allegations Of Statutory Violations
Bhargava submitted that he had previously approached the relevant authorities with formal complaints regarding the unauthorized felling and damage of the mature trees, but no administrative action was initiated.
The plea asserted that the ongoing construction work directly threatens the local green cover and appears to breach the provisions of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, prompting the plea before the high court to restrain the agencies from inflicting further damage on the trees.
