"LG has been caught cutting trees...": AAP amid row over cutting of trees in eco-sensitive zone
Jul 14, 2024
New Delhi [India], July 14 : Aam Aadmi Party attacked Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over the "illegal" cutting of around 1100 trees in the eco-sensitive Ridge of the Satbari area alleging that the trees were cut on his orders.
AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said that while the Delhi government is working to curb pollution in the national capital, the LG "has been caught" cutting the trees and "lying" in the court.
Speaking to ANI, Priyanka Kakkar said, "Trees in the Satbari area were to be cut only with the Supreme Court's order. However, trees on the ridge of the Satbari area were cut on the orders of LG...The AAP government is constantly working to curb the issue of pollution in the city... In the last 4 years, we have planted 2 crore trees. However, LG has been caught cutting the trees and lying in the court..."
This comes amid reports of illegal cutting of trees by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in Southern Ridge.
AAP has alleged that LG Saxena "flouted" all the rules and ordered the cutting of thousands of trees in an eco-sensitive zone of the Ridge area in the national capital.
In the wake of the illegal cutting of 1100 trees in Delhi's Southern Ridge, a three-member Fact Finding Committee was constituted comprising of Cabinet Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi, and Imran Hussain.
The Fact-Finding Committee of the Delhi government visited the site at SAARC Chowk, Satbari-Chhattarpur, where more than 1000 trees have allegedly been cut by DDA.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is destroying evidence by removing tree roots and trunks and questioned the motives behind the road construction, suggesting potential corruption. Atishi vowed that the committee would present its findings to the Supreme Court and call for strict action against those responsible.
Delhi Minister Atishi said, "We have come to Satbari, where 1100 trees were cut in the protected eco-zone of the ridge here. It is a serious issue that on whose orders the trees were cut. Another worrying issue is that it appears that the officers are hiding facts. Supreme Court has also made this observation. It's clear that these officers are being directed to do so to protect someone. We will submit before SC the report of our fact-finding committee."
