"This is not Masai Mara": Delhi High Court pulls up forest department for organising 'jungle on wheels' in Asola Sanctuary

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi forest department for planning to organise events like ‘jungle on wheels’, ‘cyclothon’ and ‘walkathon’ in the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary..Justice Jasmeet Singh remarked that Delhi's forest and wildlife sanctuary is not like the Masai Mara or the Serengeti in Africa and, therefore, such activities cannot take place in a city where forests are scarce.“We are here surviving for every hectare of forest land. We are not Serengeti or Masai Mara. You cannot have this,” the Court remarked. .The Bench then directed Additional Standing Counsel to clarify the stand of the Delhi government by Thursday, when the matter will be heard next..The Court was hearing a set of contempt petitions related to forest cover in Delhi and illegal construction being carried out in protected forest areas.Justice Singh made the remarks after examining a note submitted by the amici curiae appearing in the matter. The note revealed that the government was planning 'Walk with Wildlife' event in the Asola Sanctuary/Southern Ridge. .Today, the amici curiae also showed photographs of a path being built in the ridge and said that this trail was not permissible as it was constructed without the permission of the Central Ridge Management Board.The Counsel appearing for the Delhi government referred to an affidavit filed by the concerned Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) stating that no prior permission was taken from the Board and that the trail passage was made without the permission..Justice Singh expressed his displeasure with the forest department over the construction of a six-to-eight feet wide trail inside the Central Ridge in the national capital.He said that Delhi’s forests belong to its citizens and the forest department officials cannot run the forest under their custody as their fiefdoms.“Why cannot there be a natural trail…Why is there a need for the road in this ridge? This is not a property of the forest department. You are the custodian of our rights. You cannot deal with it in a cursory manner. You are not the owner.".The Bench remarked that the action was beyond the scope of the orders passed by the Supreme Court and, therefore, ordered the Delhi government to bring the original file related to the construction.The matter will be heard next on December 15..Advocates Gautam Narayan, Aditya N Prasad and Prabhsahay Kaur are amici curiae in the matter.