Secure land in South Delhi with fencing, NGT tells Forest Dept

Taking note of the poor maintenance and multiple encroachments, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to protect forest land in South Delhi. The directions came during the hearing of a case filed against the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and others.

The Tribunal noted that the area under the Forest Department’s possession lacked fencing, warning boards and an adequate tree cover.

“Videos of the forest land in question, taken by the forest officials, have been played before us and we have seen that the land does not have requisite fencing, warning boards and adequate plantation of trees. Solid waste and construction and demolition waste is also lying surrounding the land,” the Tribunal said.

The Bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr Afroz Ahmad, instructed the authorities concerned to secure the forest land with proper fencing or natural hedges, install warning boards against trespassing and undertake tree plantation drives using the Miyawaki method to develop a dense forest cover.

The Miyawaki method involves densely planting a variety of native tree and plant species in a limited space to develop a self-sustaining ecosystem resembling a natural forest.

The authorities concerned were also directed to submit an action report with timelines and budget details.