AAP Leader Accuses Delhi LG of Ignoring Eco-sensitive Ridge Violations

AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj accuses Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of ignoring eco-sensitive Ridge violations. Supreme Court had instructed senior officials to confirm via affidavit whether Saxena visited tree-felling sites. The Delhi government must explain its plan to compensate for these illegal activities and review past permissions.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has accused Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of distancing himself from the fact that he visited eco-sensitive Ridge areas in Satbari where trees were cut down. According to Bhardwaj, this claim is supported by an affidavit.

Bhardwaj stated, "The Supreme Court had instructed all senior officials to confirm in an affidavit whether the Lieutenant Governor visited the locations where trees were cut. We were consistently informed that the Lieutenant Governor had visited these sites, and the affidavit clearly indicates that he did so and gave instructions there. However, the affidavit attempts to suggest that the Lieutenant Governor was unaware that permission from the forest officer is required to cut trees in Delhi." He added, "The Chief Secretary claims that no officer informed the Lieutenant Governor of this requirement. How is that possible? This can only happen if officers are so intimidated by the Lieutenant Governor that they are unable to challenge even his illegal policies. This is a disgrace for the entire Delhi bureaucracy."

Earlier, the Supreme Court, while hearing the case, directed the Delhi government to explain how it plans to compensate for the illegal felling of trees. The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, also asked the Delhi government to determine how many such illegal permissions for tree cutting have been granted in the last five years and to present those permissions on record.

Moreover, the government and DDA officers were given the freedom to inform the apex court if Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had been informed that he could not grant permission for tree felling without the court's order. The Supreme Court also directed the DDA to clarify whether it made the decision to cut the trees based on the Lieutenant Governor's permission or if an independent decision was made. The court was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Bindu Kapurea, the NGO, and others, alleging that trees were cut despite a March 4 court order denying permission to the DDA and that the tree cutting was concealed from the court.

In May, the Supreme Court initiated a suo motu contempt of court case against DDA Vice-Chairman Subhasish Panda for violating the court's orders from February this year by allowing the felling of trees. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)