HC directs Forest department to plant trees in reclaimed land

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed the Forest Department of the Delhi Government to take up an afforestation drive on the 1134 bighas land, which was reclaimed after removal of encroachments in South Delhi.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma said the forest department should immediately fence the area and start afforestation in order to keep the land free from further encroachments.

The land, part of the ridge area, was encroached by illegal settlers and land mafia.

Submitting his report Court Commissioner Sidharth Mridul said the land which belonged to ridge area, the green belt of the capital, was handed over to the Forest Department.

Part of the land also belonged to the gram sabha and would be acting as a lung space for millions of people in the capital, said Mr Mridul.

UNI PAT MSJ GC1848