Munmun Kaur-
Published on: December 3, 2021 at 14:11 IST
A direction was given by Delhi High Court to the commissioners of Municipal Corporations to consider incorporating a rule to make it mandatory for people to inform the authorities of the existing trees or other foliage around their buildings or lands while applying for approval of plans. This direction was given after Gautam Narayan; Delhi Government’s additional standing counsel stated that the forest department generally notices a rampant felling of trees whenever constructions are sanctioned.
Justice Najmi Waziri stated “Should it be found, the Corporation would refer the matter to the Tree Officer, GNCTD to take appropriate action, as may be. There is no dispute between the learned counsel for the respondents apropos that preservation of fully grown trees is an absolute necessity especially because compensatory afforestation can never replace the lost green cover of a neighborhood,” He also added that the photographs from east, west, north and south along with the panoramic view of the street immediately outside the building needs to be filed along with the plans. This will help the corporation to ascertain whether any tress exists outside or inside the property that could be endangered by construction activity.
