New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the delay by state govt in framing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to involve its forest department in the planning of every infrastructure project in the city that requires the felling of trees.
“If you want the people of Delhi to suffer, say so, we will put it in the order. Why are you dragging your feet? Why such a slow pace?” Justice Jasmeet Singh asked the govt counsel. The high court said that if govt had any objection to the proposal to involve its forest department, it must say so, else clear the SOP.
“Why the hostility, what is the problem?” the high court wondered as it demanded an affidavit indicating steps taken to empower the tree authority. The court also directed that the file relating to the framing of SOPs be placed before it on the next date of hearing.
In March, the high court first ordered the adoption of an SOP, saying an attempt must be made to co-exist with nature. The permission for cutting trees has to be the last resort, it said, adding that SOP should also deal with the requirement of granting permission before the launch of any private construction involving the cutting of trees.
The order came on a petition over permissions granted by tree officers for the felling of trees without passing speaking orders. The court said last year that no permission for the felling of trees would be granted in the national capital.
The high court had told the govt counsel that SOP should mandate a visit by the official concerned to the site of an individual construction for examining if the trees could be saved. For infrastructure projects, the forest department will be involved in the planning to suggest if the trees can be saved, it added. “SOP be planned by the Delhi govt authorities in consultation with (certain lawyers),” stated the court.
The need for an SOP cropped up due to a notification issued by Delhi govt allowing the removal of 422 trees for an approach road to a university, resulting in several trees being felled.
