Display 'Environmental Cost' Of Projects At Construction Sites: Delhi High Court To Centre

The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Government to ensure that the environmental cost of all projects, including the number of trees that are felled and location of compensatory plantation, is displayed at the construction sites.

Justice Subramonium Prasad said that an officer not less than the rank of Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Urban Development should be made responsible to ensure compliance of the direction.

“The information would also contain the name of the civic agency which is carrying out the construction,” the court said.

Justice Prasad disposed of a plea moved by Advocate Aditya N Prasad seeking implementation of an order passed by the Central Information Commission on August 05, 2011, directing all civic agencies carrying out any construction work to display the environmental cost along with the monetary costs and details of the project at construction sites.

It was Prasad’s case that a similar order was passed by a coordinate bench on May 25, 2015, directing that a composite plan be obtained by PWD and other road owning agencies which will include details of number of standing trees and those which are required to be cut-down.

The counsel appearing for the Delhi Government said that the orders in question are being complied with in the right earnest.

It was also submitted that the Tree Officers of the concerned divisions would be responsible for timely updation of the data regarding the projects as stated in the orders.

Taking the statement on record, Justice Prasad said:

“As far as construction being carried out by the Union of India is concerned, the details of such project, i.e. the environmental cost, the number of trees being felled and the location of compensatory plantation, should be indicated at the site of the construction.”

Title: ADITYA N PRASAD v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 918

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