HC raps Delhi govt over plantation of saplings

New Delhi: Delhi high court on Monday pulled up AAP government’s forest department for its uncooperative attitude in complying with the directions to plant 1.4 lakh saplings in the Central Ridge of the city.

The government informed Justice Najmi Waziri that till date only 3,500 saplings have been planted and another 2,500 would be planted by the end of the week. The court, thereafter, observed, “I see a lot of recalcitrance at your (forest department) end.”

The move would bring the total to 6,000 as against the 30,000 saplings, which were to be planted in the first phase by June 15 according to the high court’s May 30 order. The court further noted that the forest authority was “sitting pretty” on it as if the lives of Delhiites did not matter. “Look how hot it is in the city. Quit stalling and do it,” the court said.

The forest department had said that after the May 30 order, it had surveyed the Central Ridge for additional sites to plant the saplings and could identify only 2,500 more pockets. It added that watering of saplings in these pockets could only be done manually. Therefore, it sought permission to plant the remaining saplings in the Southern Ridge. The court, however, said that saplings could also be planted near existing trees where the top soil would be thicker or deeper. It directed the forest department to plant 5,000 more saplings in the Central Ridge and around 50,000 in the Southern Ridge.

The state government has assured HC that its directions to plant 1.4 lakh saplings in the Central Ridge will be implemented. The government’s stand came after the court warned of contempt action against forest department officials for non-compliance of its order.

HC’s order to plant 1.4 lakh saplings came on a plea filed by pharma major Merck Sharp and Dohme seeking contempt action against Indian drug company Venkatanarayana Active Ingredients Pvt Ltd for breach of judicial orders not to manufacture and sell diabetes medication under the brand names used by MSD.