Deconcretisation of trees: NGT slams DDA over delay in report

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday rapped the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for not submitting report on deconcretisation of trees in the capital, even when five panels were formed to monitor the matter over a year ago.

Directing it to hold a meeting within two weeks, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar took exception to the fact that considerable time had passed but the DDA had not convened any meeting to carry out scientific deconcretisation of the trees and ensure that these were not uprooted and get proper air.

"Why are you not filing reports? Why don't you take a meeting? You want us to run after you all the time.

"We direct the Vice-Chairman of DDA to call a meeting of the concerned within two weeks from today. All the municipal corporations, Central Public Works Department and other concerned to submit the final report before the next date of hearing," the bench said, listing the matter for a hearing on October 13.

While observing that "trees are lungs of a city", the NGT had on August 26 last year set up five committees constituting officials from different agencies including DDA, Public Works Department and others to monitor deconcretisation of trees here and submit quarterly reports.

It had also appointed an advocate as local commissioner in the matter and directed him to inspect the colonies -- R K Puram, Safdarjung Development Area, Ashok Vihar and Hauz Khas, as part of a pilot project.

Advocate Aditya Prasad, who is the petitioner in the case, said the authorities were moving at "snails's pace" in implementing the NGT's directions.

"Only a single report has been filed till date. Despite various orders of the Tribunal, the concerned authorities have not carried out the work of deconcretization effectively. There is no dearth of law, but what is lacking is the will," Prasad said.

Earlier, the Tribunal had directed that deconcretization of trees should be taken up "effectively and sincerely" by all the committees in the areas falling under their respective jurisdiction.