Delhi HC directs government to display ‘environmental cost’ of projects at construction sites
Last Updated on October 3, 2023 by News Desk
Recently, the Delhi High Court passed an order directing the union government to display environmental cost, the number of trees being felled for the project and the location of the compensatory plantation for the projects at the construction site.
“As far as construction being carried out by the Union of India is concerned, the details of such project, i.e., the environmental cost, the number of trees being felled and the location of compensatory plantation, should be indicated at the site of the construction.” The court ordered.
It further directed that an officer not less than the rank of Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development should be made responsible to comply with the said order and the information should contain the name of the civic agency which is carrying out the construction.
Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing the writ petition filed by advocate Aditya N Prasad seeking implementation of the Order dated 05.08.2011, passed by the Central Information Commission directing all civic agencies carrying out any construction work to fulfil its obligation under the RTI Act, to display the environmental cost along with the monetary costs and details of the project at construction sites.
Mr Prasad referred to a case where a similar order was passed by the court in 2015 which directed PWD and other road-owning agencies to submit the information related to cutting down of trees.
The learned Counsel for the Delhi government assured that the State is promptly complying with the orders. It also stated that the Tree Officers of the concerned Divisions would be responsible for the timely updation of the data, as stated in the Order passed by the CIC and this Court.
Mr. Prasad argued to the contentions that unless the responsibility is not fixed on an Officer, the orders of the CIC will not be complied with.
Thus, the court disposed of the petition and ordered the government to display the required information.
Case title- ADITYA N PRASAD v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.
Written by Shagun Behal
