NGT Raps VVWA For Cutting Green Trees: A case of illegal cutting of green trees and trimming of greenery has come to light in Delhi's Vasant Vihar. This has made the National Green Tribunal (NGT) strict. The NGT has also reprimanded the accused organization Vasant Vihar Welfare Association (VVWA).
New Delhi: In Delhi's Vasant Vihar, a case of illegal cutting of green trees and pruning of greenery has come to the fore. This has made the National Green Tribunal (NGT) strict. NGT has also reprimanded the accused organization Vasant Vihar Welfare Association. Along with this further cutting and pruning of trees has been stopped.
The NGT has made it clear that pruning and felling of trees keeping in mind the environment can only be done by authorized government departments or land-owning institutions with no objection from the concerned. These include MCD or land rights agencies like Delhi Development Authority etc. The Court has held that VVWA being a private body does not have the said right.
The main petitioner in the case and resident of Vasant Vihar, Padma Shri and Dr. BC Roy President's awardee Prof. Dr. is Sanjeev Bagai. He had filed a petition against the illegal acts of VVWA before the NGT.
In which it is stated that we the petitioners are not against the pruning of trees, but it should be done in compliance with the applicable laws and in a scientific manner. Dr. Bagai and others had filed a petition under Section 14 and 15 of the NGT Act 2010 and appealed for penal action and issuance of guidelines for illegal felling and pruning of green trees in the colony.
The petitioners said that excessive/unbalanced/unscientific/illegal pruning should not destroy the green area of our colony. For this we need your (NGT) support. Because there is a possibility of danger to health as well as damage to the environment. He said that in the hearing held on January 19, the NGT has directed VVWA to withdraw from illegal felling and pruning of green trees. Now the next hearing in the matter is awaited for the decision.
More than 2000 green trees were sacrificed
Dr. Vagai, who has done a lot of work on the environment, said that the green area (greenery) present in the environment controls carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen. Its absence can lead to heart attack, brain stroke, asthma. This can result in death. An international study states that not taking care of the environment and greenery leads to four times more deaths. This aspect has also been placed in the court. He told that VVWA has done illegal felling and pruning of more than 2000 green trees in Vasant Vihar. For this, Rs 2-2 thousand has also been recovered from almost all the houses. There are more than 7 thousand trees here. On objecting, VVWA had earlier talked about taking permission from the concerned institutions, but could not show the copy of the permission. Then he was dragged to the NGT court.
VVWA gave this answer in the court
The NGT has held several rounds of hearings in this matter so far. On January 03, NGT issued notice to all the responsible including VVWA and sought affidavit. During the hearing held on January 19, the VVWA submitted an affidavit in the court stating that there is no environmental impact of tree felling. No permission is required for pruning. After this, the court has directed the authorized organizations to do this work keeping in mind the rules, regulations and environment. The court has also made it clear that VVWA is not a government organization nor is it an organization having land rights. That's why she cannot do this work. Dr. Vagai raised the question why earlier VVWA misled the residents that MCD has given approval and PWD approval is awaited? Whereas now the same people are giving affidavit in the court saying that there is no need for approval.