'Only way to save Delhi...': SC says planting trees alone can help capital's worsening AQI

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• Supreme Court to prioritize Delhi afforestation case hearing
• Delhi plans to increase green cover to 33% in 4 years
• MD Sinha appointed to expert committee on afforestation

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The Supreme Court of India on Friday indicated that increasing Delhi’s green cover may offer the most enduring answer to the Capital’s air quality crisis, as it agreed to take up a pending matter on afforestation on a priority basis.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant took note of submissions by senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, who pointed out that a petition concerning the enhancement of the city’s green cover had not seen meaningful progress. “When we are fighting for a better air quality index (AQI), this is one of the most well-thought-out long-drawn solutions,” the Chief Justice observed.

Krishnakumar, appearing as amicus curiae, referred to the long-running MC Mehta pollution case. In February last year, the top court had assigned the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute the task of preparing an action plan to boost Delhi’s green cover and conduct a comprehensive tree census. He informed the bench that a draft plan had been submitted in March last year, but the case had not been taken up for substantive hearing since then.

The bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, remarked, “This issue has some interconnectivity with AQI and bears relevance for Delhi.” The court asked the amicus to furnish details and agreed to list the matter, preferably on Monday.

The court also addressed a vacancy in a three-member expert committee set up to advise the Delhi government on planned afforestation and appropriate species selection. The vacancy arose after former Indian Forest Service officer Ishwar Singh was appointed to the National Green Tribunal. The remaining members are former principal chief conservator of forests Sunil Limaye and environmentalist Pradip Kishen.

The issue had come up a day earlier when the apex court permitted the Delhi Development Authority to fell 152 trees in Delhi Ridge to facilitate road expansion for access to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences in Chhattarpur. While granting permission, the court allowed the amicus to suggest names to fill the panel vacancy.

Acting on two names proposed by Krishnakumar, the bench appointed MD Sinha, a former Indian Forest Service officer of the Haryana cadre who earlier served as principal secretary in the Haryana government, to join the expert body.

The Forest Research Institute’s draft, presented in March last year, proposed a phased plan to raise Delhi’s green cover to 33 per cent of its geographical area. It is estimated that the greening initiative and tree census would take around four years. The court, however, had directed FRI to revisit its timelines and cost projections.

According to the proposal, the first phase would require a detailed strategy developed through coordination among stakeholders. It recommended the creation of a high-level steering committee led by Delhi’s chief secretary and comprising representatives from 19 departments of the Centre and the Delhi government to identify land suitable for afforestation. A separate high-level committee, also chaired by the chief secretary, was proposed to oversee the tree census.

The greening project was estimated to cost ₹3.69 crore, while the tree census exercise, involving geospatial mapping and engagement of scientific experts, was projected at ₹4.43 crore.

As per the India State of Forest Report 2023 released by the Forest Survey of India, Delhi’s total forest and tree cover stands at 371.31 square kilometres, about 25 per cent of its total area of 1,483 square kilometres. Of this, 195.28 square kilometres are under the jurisdiction of the forest department.