Supreme Court constitutes expert agency to enhance green cover in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the constitution of an expert agency to enhance green cover in Delhi..A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said that the agency will be tasked with undertaking a massive afforestation drive in Delhi to increase the tree cover in the national capital."We deem it necessary to appoint an expert agency to prepare action plan for enhancing green cover of the area under the jurisdiction of GNCTD. When we say green cover we intend that the massive afforestation drive to increase enhancing green cover which will include me initiating a massive afforestation drive to increase tree cover of the area covered by GNCTD," the Court said..Towards this end, the Court directed the Forest Research Institute to file an affidavit setting out the timelines within which it proposes to implement various steps as directed by the Court."A copy of this order shall be forwarded to Forest Research Institute. The institute shall file an affidavit setting out the timelines in following terms of the judgments. The agency will also set out in the affidavit requirement of funds required for the project so that necessary directions can be issued for payment of requisite amount to the agency," the Court said..The Court took up the issue of green cover in Delhi after hearing a contempt of court petition alleging that hundreds of trees were cut by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) without Court's permission, on instructions of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena.When the matter was heard in December last year, the Court had pulled up the Delhi Forest department for failing to apprise the Court regarding measures to be taken to enhance the green cover in the national capital.The Court had then said it would appoint an external agency for proposing to measures required to enhance the national capital's green cover.Prior to that in June 2024, the Court had directed the Secretary to convene a meeting to discuss the comprehensive measures need to be taken to enhance the green cover in Delhi.After the Court was informed in December 2024 that no report was filed by the Delhi government in this regard, it had ordered the Amicus Curiae to propose the name of an agency which could undertake the task.Pursuant to that order, the Amicus Curiae made suggestions today and the Court proceeded to pass directions for appointment of expert agency..[Read Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.