A group of residents of the posh Vasant Kunj locality in South-West Delhi have raised objection to the proposed widening of a major road in their neighbourhood. They said it would cut the existing green space and add to more traffic and chaos, which would make their life difficult.
With the Appellate Authority on preservation of trees not giving them a hearing last year and rejecting their contention earlier this week, the residents have brought the issue to the Delhi High Court. The National Green Tribunal had earlier disposed of the matter while asking the authorities to pay attention to compensatory plantation.
The stretch of road in question, where trees would have to be felled for the task of widening by the Delhi Government’s Public Works Department, extends from Andheria Mod to Fortis Hospital red light.
‘Some trees can
be saved’
Bindu Kapurea and other local residents, who moved a writ petition in the High Court, stated that they did not oppose the widening of the road, but pointed out that there may be instances where trees in certain sections could be saved and may not be interfering with the road-widening project.
The residents contended before the Appellate Authority, functioning under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, that the width of road be reduced from 75 m to 45 m. However, the Authority upheld the September 15, 2014, order of the Deputy Conservator of Forests (West) earlier this week, observing that the doctrine of “greater common good” needed to be applied to the case.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher of the High Court on Tuesday directed the forest authorities not to give effect to the order for three weeks and gave liberty to the petitioners to file a fresh petition challenging the Appellate Authority’s decision.
The High Court had earlier granted a stay on the felling of trees till the Appellate Authority considers the contentions and suggestions made on behalf of the petitioners. The fresh stay was granted to enable the residents to impugn the Appellate Authority’s order.
The Appellate Authority noted in its January 5 order that while the prescription was for planting 10 times of the number of trees to be cut, the DCF (West) had laid down operational guidelines for planting of 10,000 trees against the 8,100 mandated for removal of 810 trees.
Residents have raised objection to the proposed widening
of a major road in their neighbourhood, saying it would cut the green space
and add to more traffic and chaos
