Delhi HC Calls For Community Participation & Assistance Of Schools Over Concretization Of Trees, Says Children Would Be Ward Army

Dealing with a plea highlighting the inaction of the authorities over concretization of trees in city's Vasant Vihar area, the Delhi High Court recently called for community participation and assistance of neighbouring schools on the issue.

"The Tree Officer shall take appropriate action in this regard, including meetings with the RWAs, so as to generate and augment community participation. Workshops, if so required, may also be conducted in the residential colonies. Appropriate exercise may also be carried out with the assistance of neighbourhood schools because children would be a valuable watch and ward army for protection of trees. Their participation would be very relevant," Justice Najmi Waziri ordered.

The development came after the Court had earlier pulled up the South Delhi Municipal Corporation over the issue observing that concretization of trees amounts to worst kind of human rights abuse for the reason that it changes the whole environment of people.

During a recent hearing, the Court perused the photographs shown by SDMC, Delhi Police and Public Works Department.

The Court noted that the photographs showed substantial work having been undertaken in the past few days regarding removal of loose concrete around trees and washing of trees maintained by the authorities.

"Indeed, the SDMC went ahead and sprayed water on trees which were otherwise covered with dust in Lajpat Nagar area," the Court said.

"The collateral benefit of this exercise is relief to the trees, citizens and for bringing down dust-pollution on some arterial roads of the city. It is hoped that this exercise would continue at least for another two weeks so as to mitigate the pollution in these areas," it added.

The RWA of Vasant Vihar also gave a compendium to the Court listing each tree in the colony. The Court therefore directed the SDMC to treat the same as a census and number each tree.

"It shall maintain a proper record of the same. Let Conservator of Forests submit his report to the court within two months. It may coordinate its efforts with the RWA concerned to ensure that the green cover is maintained and augmented," the Court said.

The matter will now be considered on December 17.

Previously, emphasizing on the need for tree-lined avenues and footpaths, the Court had observed that the constitutional guarantee of citizens' freedom of movement as enshrined in the Constitution should not be hemmed in by the lack of civic amenities.

"While freedom of movement is a constitutional guarantee, it should not be hemmed-in by the lack of requisite civic amenities. Citizens need to be empowered and facilitated in the enjoyment of their constitutional rights, for which provision of basic civic amenities is essential, like a safe and secure neighbourhood, tree-lined avenues and footpaths, where an endeavour of a leisurely stroll is actually a pleasurable exercise and not an obstacle-dodging, harrowing experience," it had observed.

Case Title: BHAVREEN KANDHARI v. GYANESH BHARTI & ORS

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