|
|
|
HC notice to Delhi govt on 'financial irregularities' in tree plantings in Delhi
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
|
|
|
IANS | 27 Sep, 2022
The
Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Delhi government,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and others
on a plea to ascertain the numbers and kinds of tree saplings planted in
the national capital and its cost in the last five years, saying the
government agencies' works merely on 'numerical targets' and 'publicise
achievements.
'A Bench led by Chief Justice Satish
Chandra Sharma was hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) also
seeking an SIT probe or an independent inquiry committee in the matter
and also to issue directions to the MoEFCC and all planting agencies to
issue further directions under 5 of EPA Act, to necessarily maintain all
fresh or compensatory Plantations for a minimum period of 8-10 years.
The
court also sought the responses of the Ministry of Housing & Urban
Affairs, DDA, MCD, NDMC, CPWD, PWD, Delhi Biodiversity Council, Delhi
Parks & Gardens Society, ASI, NHAI & CPCB in the matter.
The
plea was moved on behalf of environmentalist Diwan Singh, raising the
issue of bulk or single day Plantations conducted by government
agencies, which are ecologically inconsequential and biodiversity
discouraging in the capital, witnessing alarming pollution levels, and
which are being done to merely achieve numerical targets and publicize
achievements.
The petition further raised the issue of severe
scarcity of land available for plantations, the erroneous manner of
plantations done extremely close to each other, which doesn't result in
developed canopies, heights and are unable to absorb pollution, apart
from the lack of maintenance in the initial years of plantation, leading
to high mortality.
Appearing for the petitioner, Akash
Vashishtha, Advocate, argued that none of the agencies conducted
plantations were maintaining proper records regarding the species,
numbers, exact areas, geotagged locations, costs involved and survival
etc. "The CAG report highlights the blatant irregularities and the
virtually defunct Delhi Tree Authority," he submitted.
"No
information pertaining to the plantations are made publically available
on their websites, not allowing a common citizen to view such important
information and participate or to provide feedback," Vashishtha told the
court.
"The grim survival rate is primarily because of the wrong
method, single-day bulk plantations. Invasive species are planted
instead of native ones which is destroying the city's biodiversity," he
apprised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customs Exchange Rates |
Currency |
Import |
Export |
US Dollar
|
66.20
|
64.50 |
UK Pound
|
87.50
|
84.65 |
Euro
|
78.25
|
75.65 |
Japanese
Yen |
58.85 |
56.85 |
As on 13 Aug, 2022 |
|
|
Daily Poll |
|
|
PM Modi's recent US visit to redefine India-US bilateral relations |
|
|
|
|
|
Commented Stories |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|