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No more Delhi trees to be cut till July 4, says High Court

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No more Delhi trees to be cut till July 4, says High Court

The Delhi High Court on Monday, June 25 said that no more trees will be cut for now in Delhi, putting on hold a controversial project that requires cutting of at least 17,000 trees on the account of re-development in the capital.

The Delhi High court on Monday directed state-owned construction company National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) to not to cut any trees.  The next date of hearing in Delhi High Court is July 4, while, National Green Tribunal (NGT) will hear the matter on July 2.

“We understand that you have to widen the road. You want to cut thousands of trees for housing. You are building some of the residential complexes but can Delhi afford it today?” the judge asked the government-run NBCC, which is overseeing the project.

The court questioned Central Public Works Development (CPWD) and NBCC on what basis they have the permission from the authorities. “Have you taken permission from the tree authority?” the bench questioned.

Petitioner Dr. KK Mishra, an orthopedic surgeon, said that since the decision involved the tree authority, the court could hear it. Mishra, in his petition, asks the court to stop the central government project to cut thousands of trees for what it calls “redevelopment” of seven colonies in south Delhi.

Mishra has asked the Delhi High Court to stop the Central government project to cut thousands of trees for what it calls “redevelopment of seven colonies” in south Delhi.

“More than 20,000 trees will be cut in the main south Delhi area. A CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report states there is a deficit of nine lakh trees in Delhi. I hope the court will put a stay on the order,” the petitioner told reporters. He further said that thousands of trees going to be cut or brought down and it could have an irreversible impact on the Environment.

Mishra filed petition seeking court orders to set aside the terms of reference (ToR) and environment clearances (EC) granted for re-development of six South Delhi colonies by Centre, contending that it would lead to felling of over 16,500 trees.

According to environmentalists, saplings cannot replace fully grown trees for years in Delhi, which is among the most-polluted cities in the world.

No more Delhi trees to be cut till July 4, says High Court

About 1,500 protesters at Sarojini Nagar, one of the colonies chosen for the project, hugged the trees, launching their own “Chipko Movement”(a forest conservation movement where people embraced trees to prevent them from being cut in Uttarakhand in the 1970s).  Activist Chhavi Methi said: “We will rally outside the Sarojini Nagar police station on Sunday at about 4.30 p.m. and hug the trees as an act of protest.”

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders slammed the BJP-led government for maintaining silence over the matter.

Joined by the AAP leaders, protestors including children and senior citizens came out on the streets of Sarojini Nagar with placards and banners. The agitating people had come from different areas of Delhi-NCR to mount pressure on the government.

Hardeep Singh Puri, the union minister of state for housing and urban development said, “Till the time I am a minister no tree will be cut and for every tree that is cut we will plant 10 trees. Green cover will go up by three times after re-development of seven colonies in South Delhi. Young activists are too fast to blame.” Puri had faced criticism on social media when he justified the project and said all trees would be replaced by saplings.

“It is not just about a tree it is the entire ecosystem that thrives on it, the insects the birds the animals, over it chopping down a 50-year-old tree and replacing it with a sapling, how foolish! Afforestation is not the replacement for deforestation,” a Twitter user commented.

“Be careful with your tone. Just because I am a public servant, you cannot take the liberty of being offensive. All this predates me. The decision taken will ensure that at no point in time will there be even one less tree in the area,” Puri tweeted.

For the South Delhi redevelopment project, over 3,000 trees have already been cut in parts of the city like Nauroji Nagar and Netaji Nagar in South Delhi according to reports.

NBCC and Central Public Works Department gave assurance to Delhi High Court that they will not cut any trees till July 4, next date of hearing in the case.

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

BJP to contest all 13 Punjab Lok Sabha seats for first time since 1996, says state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar

Jakhar said that the Lok Sabha election was the most appropriate time for the BJP to contest independently, as the state is looking for an option

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Punjab BJP state President Sunil Jakhar recently said that his party will contest all 13 Lok Sabha sears in the state independently. The BJP has not allied with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) since 1996.

Sunil Jakhar in an interview with a news publication, said that this decision signifies a new chapter in the party’s strategy in Punjab. The BJP had allied with the SAD in Punjab for over two decades, and is considered to be a major coalition in the state’s political landscape.

The BJP state chief noted that the decision to contest independently was taken on the account of the feedback from the public and party members, reflecting a growing sentiment within the BJP to establish a stronger, independent presence in Punjab.

Jakhar continued that the Lok Sabha election was the most appropriate time for the BJP to contest independently, as the state is looking for an option. He asserted that Punjab tried out-of-the-box experiment in form of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but are dissappointed with them.

He further highlighted the BJP’s work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in securing minimum support prices for farmers, as key accomplishments that the party will present to the electorate. This development follows as the BJP aims to consolidate its position and expand its influence in Punjab.

Notably, the SAD was one of the oldest allies of the BJP. Nonetheless, the SAD severed ties with the NDA in September 2020 over the now repealed farm laws that saw widespread protests in northern India.

Speaking about coalition with SAD, the BJP state chief said that the alliance was not political but a social one. He added that the party is facing a battle of survival, and that its leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has sins to wash of, including the drug problem and sacrilege cases.

Election in Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats is scheduled for June 1, 2024. This development is expected to significantly alter the dynamics of the electoral battle in Punjab, traditionally dominated by the SAD-BJP coalition and the Congress party.

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India News

3-year-old found dead inside Patna school drain, crowd sets school on fire

Superintendent of Police Chandra Prakash said an investigation is launched and three people have been arrested

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Protests erupted in Bihar’s capital after a three-year-old child was found dead in a private school in the city. The body of the child was discovered in the school’s sewage system, prompting a mob of protesters to attack the building and attempt to set it on fire.

The tragic finding was reportedly made when the child’s family began looking for him after he did not came back home from school. As soon as they went to the school, family members began to suspect more after school administrators allegedly made an effort to divert questions regarding the child’s whereabouts.

The family continued in their quest to find the truth, which finally led them to a devastating revelation. The three-year-old’s body was discovered hidden in a drainage gutter deep within the school grounds.

Soon the local authorities were informed about the incident after which the police launched the investigation. Superintendent of Police Chandra Prakash said, the child was observed entering the school but did not exit.

Chandra Prakash said the child was observed entering the school in the CCTV video, but he was never seen exiting the school grounds. The school was hiding the body, which indicates criminal intent, therefore the police will look into it as a murder case, he added. An investigation is launched and three people have been arrested, Chandra Prakash added.

The parents rushed to the streets seeking justice for their child. They  claimed that the school was trying to hide what had happened to their child. The angry protesters blocked traffic on roads and set fire to school walls. The cowrd also blocked the road leading to school.

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Swati Maliwal undergoes medical check-up, internal injuries on face

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AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal sustained internal injuries in her face after being reportedly assaulted by an aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, as per reports. Maliwal spent more than three hours on Friday at AIIMS, Delhi, having a medical examination.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has stepped up its hunt for Bibhav Kumar, Kejriwal’s assistant, one day after filing a formal complaint in relation to the incident. After a Delhi Police squad recorded Maliwal’s statement at her home, a FIR was filed.

The former head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said in her complaint that Bibhav Kumar had punched, kicked, slapped, and beat her with a stick.

Earlier, on Thursday evening, Swati Maliwal underwent a medical check-up for about four hours. Along with Maliwal, a Delhi Police squad arrived at AIIMS at 11 p.m. and left at 3:15 a.m. Maliwal was accompanied by Vandana Singh, a member of the Delhi Commission for Women. There was a CT scan and an X-ray.

Swati Maliwal has claimed in her lawsuit that she was repeatedly struck on sensitive body parts and subjected to physical assault.

Delhi Police has stepped up its investigation into the matter in the interim.A team of police reached Bibhav Kumar’s house, but he was not found.

Approximately ten police teams are looking into the matter; four of the units are tracking Bibhav’s whereabouts. According to sources, Bibhav might be in Amritsar. Additionally, since the INDIA bloc is planned to have a rally in Mahrashtra, police believe Bibhav may be there.

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