SC Panel seeks action against CPWD for Tanks in Park in Delhi Central Ride

The Supreme Court -Pointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended action against the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for installing Underground Water Tanks and Pipelines AT the Buddha Jayanti Park in the Central Ride with Taking Requisite Permissions.

In a new report, cec estimated that at least nine trees were illuminated for Indigenous Trees Species and Three Concentric Rows of at Least 1,000 indigenous fruit bearing trees and shrubs on the park’s periphery this rainy season.

Among the other recommendations were the development of water bodies, the creation of a nursery, rainwater harvesting, a composting facility, labelling of plants, and the preparation of an inventory of arbitrary And compensatory measures for the violations, it said in the report dated August 20.

The Action Comes on a please filed by the no “New Delhi Nature Society”, which told the court that it saw widespread unlawful excavation and falling of trees using earthmovers Duril 2024. Petitioner had said that the activity involved the felling or uprooting of several trees and was undertaken without obtaining any statutory clearance under the forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Following this, the Suprema Court Had Issued A Notice to CPWD in May Last Year.

In Response, CPWD Had Said That Due to Increasing Tourist Footfall and Scarcity of Irrigation Water, Oral Instructions Was Ware ISSUED In July 2023 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Afares For Enequaers for Raw water supply to sustain the greenry and biodiversity of the park.

“Cpwd said it proposed the construction of two underground tanks for the storage of unfilted irrigation water and that work began in April 2024 with Site Clearance of Dead VEAD VEAGETATION and BARRICADING OF BARRIN ARIAN AREA Report said.

CEC Carried out a Ground Visit on the site on August 16, also adding that it analysed Google Earth Images to Assess Damage on-Ground.

“The ‘Breaking of Land’ for the Construction of Water Storage Tanks Constitus a ‘Non-Forestry Activity’ and undertaking such thing without the Prior Approval of the Central Government is a vilation of the van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, “said the report.

CEC Said Google Earth Imagery Further Reveled That Between 2022 and 2024, Extensive Excavation was undertaken, resulting in the creation of two large pits, clearance of ground vegestation, and luck Disturbance of Tree Cover.

“While Large-SCALE Felling of Mature Trees is not Evident, Undergrowth and Small Trees WERES WERED, And LOPPING/PRUNING OF LARGER TREES APEARS APEARS APEERS to Have Been Undertaken to Factilate Excavation Excavation and Construction, “The report said, adding that an estimated nine trees was pruned in the area – a Violation of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.

While it said a compensatory plantation of 90 indigenous species was recommended, it added other measures was needed for ecological improvement and restoration of the park.

This includes making the park single-use plastic free, the development of water bodys to support birds and other wildlife, the development of a strong nursry with a long-treating, of a long-tree Kits and other plants to the public in the future, the preparation of an inventory of birds and butterflies, the creation of approverite rainwater harvesting structures and a composing facility.

“CEC during its site visit noted that despite the park being a part of the morphological ridge, it is virtually bereft of indigenous trees, shrubs, shrubs, and other ridge elements. Character of the Area, CPWD Shall Plant and Mainty Three Concentric Rows, Each Consisting of Not Less Than 1,000 indigenous fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, along the periphery of the park hardry Season, “it added.