Delhi losing forest cover, injustice to nature: HC

Delhi High Court on Wednesday observed that the national capital was drastically losing its forest cover and injustice was being done to natureA bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to personally look into the matterIt also asked her about the status of a pending case before the Supreme Court with identical issues including depletion of green coverThis is a case highlighting that the forest cover in Delhi is reducing drastically and buildings are being constructed around the central ridge area and that encroachments around Asola sanctuary are not removed Does the matter pending in the Supreme Court has taken care of the forest cover of Delhi too the bench asked BhatiTo this the law officer said the apex courts matter included everything and they were also waiting for the hearing before the top courtThe bench further said Please personally look into this Delhi is losing its forest cover like anything We are keeping this matter after four weeks The amicus curiae has done a great job and has brought all minute details to our notice We feel that injustice is being done to nature We should leave something for the generations to come mountains rivers and forestsAlso Read LG withholding clearance on proposal to send govt teachers to Finland for training Delhi Dy CMThe high court was hearing a batch of public interest litigations on the problem of poor ambient air quality in Delhi an issue which it has taken up suo motu and in which it has also appointed an amicus curiaeThe court also asked the authorities to explain the reason for defiance of its earlier orders passed in the matter and listed the matter for further hearing on March 13It also asked the Centre Delhi government the Forest department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD to explain in an affidavit how a multistoreyed building in the Ridge area got permission for the construction of flatsSenior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Kailash Vasudev apprised the court of an advertisement on flats on sale in the Chattarpur area of south DelhiIt is on the ridge area you cannot build it as there is a prohibition Somewhere some answer is needed I cant say more I think the court should issue a notice to the MCD to explain this Ask for an affidavit from the MCD commissioner to answer what is there he said adding that the advertisement was freely being distributed to everyoneHe also showed certain photographs to the court to highlight the loss of forest cover especially in the areas around Asola sanctuary the airport and the Presidents houseThese areas are surrounded by slums and that the Yamuna river bank today is one huge unplanned slum he saidWhile giving his suggestions to increase forest cover in the city Vasudev said the government should clean the identified areas where encroachments had been done in the Ridge areaYou cannot take protection for your illegal acts he said adding that the court should call upon the government to clean these areas which are the vote banks of politiciansThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever