The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has recently admitted to the unauthorised felling of approximately 1,100 trees in the eco-sensitive Ridge area of South Delhi, igniting significant controversy and legal scrutiny. The admission, which has surfaced through an affidavit submitted by the DDA to the Supreme Court, highlights a breach of legal protocols concerning environmental conservation and governance.
The Delhi minister disclosed on Wednesday that the DDA has acknowledged cutting trees illegally, without obtaining requisite permissions from either the Supreme Court or the Delhi government. This statement is backed by an affidavit the DDA submitted to the Supreme Court on June 18. The trees were reportedly cut between 16 and 26 February this year, ostensibly for a road-widening project in the Satbari area, which has raised substantial environmental concerns given the sensitivity of the Ridge region. “The DDA vice-chairperson admitted that the tree felling was conducted unlawfully,” stated the Delhi minister during a press briefing. The admission also includes a revelation that DDA’s legal representative misled the Supreme Court by falsely claiming that their email system had been hacked, which was later confessed to be untrue. Instead, it was found that the DDA’s executive engineer had directly instructed the contractor to proceed with the tree cutting, despite lacking the necessary approvals.
The issue came to light after a contempt petition was filed by a Delhi resident, Bindu Kapurea, alleging that the tree felling occurred despite a Supreme Court order on March 4 explicitly denying permission for such actions. The matter is now under judicial review by the Chief Justice of India’s bench, with hearings scheduled to continue. According to the DDA’s affidavit, 468 trees were felled from forest areas and another 174 from non-forest areas, totaling 642 trees acknowledged to have been cut illegally. This figure contrasts with earlier reports suggesting around 1,100 trees were affected, sparking further questions about the scope and scale of the unauthorised activity.
The minister also criticised the apparent lack of accountability among higher authorities, suggesting that the illegal felling was conducted under pressure from the office of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), who also heads the DDA. “All officials were aware of the illegal activity, driven by pressure from the LG; yet, no one intervened and now, lower-level officials are being scapegoated to protect higher authorities,” the minister asserted. Despite multiple requests for clarification, the office of the Lieutenant Governor and the DDA have remained silent on the matter, offering no public comment to date. This silence has further fuelled allegations of systemic failings and possible misconduct within the civic administration.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear more on this case, the spotlight is firmly on the DDA and the broader governance mechanisms that allowed such an environmental breach to occur. The illegal felling not only violates environmental protection laws but also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in civic projects, particularly those that have far-reaching implications for the city’s ecological balance. The outcome of the Supreme Court’s deliberations will be pivotal, potentially setting a precedent for how environmental regulations are enforced in the capital and beyond. For now, the unauthorised tree cutting in South Delhi’s Ridge area remains a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in balancing urban development with ecological preservation.
