The Supreme Court Thursday (November 11, 2021) said it would not accept the submission of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by it, that all trees are not forests and said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) would have to get forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act for felling of trees for phase IV of metro expansion.
A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said it cannot stall the development but there has to be a balance between development and environment.
Advocate A D N Rao, who is assisting the top court as amicus curiae in the matter, said if the DMRC gives an undertaking that let the court decide whether the area of 5.33 km is forest or non-forest and the court finds that it is a forest area then forest clearance, compensatory afforestation and payment of money would be needed.
"Payment of this money cannot hold Delhi to ransom which is facing severe air pollution. Why metro. It is reducing the pollution in the country and caters to a large number of commuters. In 21 minutes flat you reach Airport from New Delhi station," Rao submitted. Senior advocate Rajiv Dutta, appearing for intervenors Dr P C Prasad and advocate Aditya N Prasad, submitted that the Delhi High Court had asked them to approach the CEC with their plea seeking directions to the authorities, including DMRC, to change the nature of the project from overground to underground to "preserve and improve the air quality" and "to ensure that least number of trees are cut in a city like Delhi where the air is already oversaturated with pollutants".