NEW DELHI: Delhi’s green cover is likely to increase by more than 10,000 saplings/trees – funded solely by fines and costs deposited by errant litigants or departments at Delhi High Court.Directing the transfer of such funds lying in the court registry, justice Najmi Waziri has underlined that these should be used for public benefit.”About Rs 80 lakh were deposited in the court as costs that were imposed on the defaulting litigants in scores of contempt petitions and writ petitions, etc. These monies are to be utilised for the larger public good. Plantation of trees is one such exercise, which the court would consider because trees, for as long as they are alive, be it for decades or centuries, would incessantly and silently provide multiple benefits to the city, provided, however, that people and the land-owning agencies do not interfere in or hinder their growth,” the court said.It pointed out that the “benefit that trees would provide to generations of residents of Delhi, by way of fresh oxygen, would be immeasurable…”In its order, the court directed that the monies be utilised by the deputy conservator of forests, Delhi with the help of PWD.The HC also made lawyers, appearing for the civic agencies and Delhi government as private parties, a stakeholder in the project and asked each of them to ensure they get at least 2,500 trees planted. It directed the police, PWD and forest department to give all help to the court commissioners and suggested that depending upon the soil type and topography, the DCF may consider planting a variety of trees along roads maintained by PWD/MCD. The trees include pilkhan, kachnaar, kadamb, badh, amaltas.The HC specified that each tree should have a minimum of three years’ nursery age and a minimum trunk height of 10 feet and demanded a compliance affidavit, along with photographs showing the plantation sites before and after the plantation, duly protected by tree guards/fences.In case of “any attrition of the trees or any damage to them, the land-owning agency shall promptly remedy the situation with the advice of the tree officer and keep the learned court commissioners informed with photographs.”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/hc-orders-plantation-of-10000-saplings-using-fines-deposited-in-court/articleshow/101092040.cms
