Battle for Green: Saket Forest Encroachment Shocks NGT, DDA Under Fire

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has once again cast a stern gaze upon the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), expressing profound displeasure over the rampant encroachment plaguing a substantial 7.5 acres of the Saket forest area. This critical green lung, intended for ecological preservation, has fallen prey to illegal occupation, prompting the NGT to issue sharp directives against the DDA for its apparent failure to protect the precious land.

The DDA, in its submission to the NGT, attempted to shift responsibility, stating that the contested 7.5 acres had been transferred to the city's forest department specifically for compensatory afforestation.

The authority contended that, following this transfer, the onus of protecting and maintaining the verdant expanse now lay squarely with the forest department. This explanation, however, did little to appease the judicial body.

Refusing to accept the DDA's argument, the NGT, presided over by judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, firmly reminded the authority of its fundamental role.

The Tribunal underscored that despite any transfers, the DDA remains the ultimate owner and custodian of the land. It emphasized that the DDA cannot simply abdicate its responsibility for the ecological health and physical integrity of such a vital urban forest.

In a clear and decisive order, the NGT directed the DDA to take immediate and concrete steps.

The authority has been mandated to ensure the precise demarcation of the forest land's boundaries and, crucially, to free the entire 7.5-acre stretch from all forms of encroachment. Furthermore, the Tribunal ordered the DDA to engage in a collaborative effort with the forest department, devising and executing a joint action plan to reclaim and secure the area without further delay.

The Tribunal also lamented the history of inaction surrounding the Saket forest.

It pointed out that despite previous orders and an evident need for intervention, no effective measures had been taken to protect this significant patch of forest land. This recurring issue highlights a concerning pattern of oversight and neglect that threatens Delhi's diminishing green cover.

The original plea that brought this environmental crisis to the NGT's attention was filed by environmentalist Diwan Singh.

His petition vividly detailed the systematic destruction of the Saket forest area, raising urgent concerns about its future and the broader implications for urban biodiversity. The ongoing legal battle underscores the critical importance of safeguarding these natural spaces against relentless urban pressures.