Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court addressing his involvement in the large-scale tree felling in the Delhi Ridge forest area. The court recently requested an explanation from the LG regarding the cutting of trees despite its earlier orders prohibiting such actions without permission.
In the affidavit dated October 22, Saxena claimed he was unaware of the requirement to obtain the Supreme Court’s approval for tree felling until after it had begun. He explained that during a visit in February for a road widening project aimed at improving access to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS), he was informed that the necessary permissions were pending from the ‘competent authority.’
Saxena stated that he had called for the expedited communication of this approval but did not realize that the court’s permission was also needed. He learned of this requirement only on March 21 when a proposal from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was presented regarding the formation of an expert committee. By that time, tree felling had reportedly commenced around February 16.
He emphasized that there was no intention to disregard the court’s directives, calling the situation “extremely unfortunate.” Saxena expressed regret over the tree felling, attributing it to miscommunication and misunderstanding within the DDA. He referenced a notification from February 14, issued by the Delhi government, which authorized tree felling under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, potentially leading to confusion among field officers.
In response to the incident, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against DDA officials involved in the project, and a criminal complaint has also been filed against those deemed responsible. The LG highlighted that the tree cutting was necessary for an important project, which has already seen an investment of ₹2,200 crores in public funds.
Saxena clarified that the number of trees cut was approximately 642, significantly lower than the previously reported figure of 1,100. He also requested that the court dismiss the contempt proceedings against DDA Vice-Chairman Subhasish Panda, who was undergoing surgery at the time of the felling and had not returned to work until March 12.
In terms of environmental compensations, the affidavit noted that tree planting initiatives are already in progress, with 170 trees and 4,000 shrubs planted so far, and plans to plant an additional 200 trees and 500 shrubs within a week. The DDA has also committed to planting 1,000 six-foot trees as part of Project Kalindi Aviral, aimed at reviving the River Yamuna. Additionally, the DDA has pledged to plant 100 new trees for every tree that was cut down.
