Activist Claims Delhi's Forest Dept Remains In Bad Shape, NGT Tells Chief Secy To Submit Compliance Report [Read Order]

And with the Delhi government failing to abide by the orders of the National Green Tribunal passed in the year 2015 asking it to enhance the strength of the forest department, the green tribunal has now asked the Chief Secretary of Delhi to furnish a compliance report.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice AK Goel called for the report after environmental activist and advocate Aditya N Prasad told the court that its orders from 2015 have not been complied with.

Almost three years ago, Prasad had highlighted how the Delhi government's forest department was short-staffed with almost no forest rangers or filed staff for regulatory functions.

The department then had 546 staff, which included 499 labourers and a mere 47 officers and field staff.

A proposal for more staff was made to the government but the Department of Administrative Reform reduced the number from 319 to 17.

The tribunal had in December, 2015 ordered thus, "The Chief Secretary of NCT of Delhi is directed to undertake a meeting with the Secretary of the concerned Ministry, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and the senior most officers for field staff in the Forest Department and consider the issues in relation to preservation and conservation of forest in NCT of Delhi.

"We further direct him also to consider appropriate enhancement in the strength of the forest department and provision of proper infrastructure and such electronic or other gadgets that would ensure that all cadres of the forest department are able to discharge their duties and functions as required under the above Acts."

Prasad has now once again moved the tribunal saying the above directions have not been complied with and the consequence is that preservation and conservation of forest in NCT Delhi, which requires adequate staff strength and sorting out of other operational difficulties, is not possible.

"In view of the above, let Chief Secretary, Delhi furnish a status report about the compliance of order of this Tribunal dated 10.12.2015 within one month by e-mail at ngt.filing@gmail.com," ordered the NGT.

Read the Order Here