‘Choked by concrete’: Delhi HC asks MCD, tree officer to preserve 300-year-old banyan tree

The Delhi High Court has instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the relevant tree officer to conduct an inspection and take necessary measures to safeguard a banyan tree that is over a century old in the Nai Sarak area of the capital.

Justice Prateek Jalan, addressing a petition concerning unauthorized construction that caused harm to the tree, observed that although the sanction plan for the implicated property was revoked, the issue of preserving the tree persisted.

In a recent order, the court directed, “The Tree Officer and MCD are directed to carry out a joint inspection at the site within a period of one week from today, and to take such further action as required to ensure the preservation of the tree which is stated to be approximately 140-160 years old.” The court further mandated that the Tree Officer and the relevant MCD officer conduct inspections at least once every four weeks to ensure the site’s maintenance conducive to the tree’s preservation.

In a prior order, the court expressed concern that the tree had been negatively impacted by construction work, stating that it had been “choked by concrete” and had undergone “extensive cutting of its branches, prop-roots and subterranean roots.” The court, noting the severity of the situation, emphasized the need to appreciate the historical significance of the centuries-old tree, which had been a silent witness to Delhi’s history.

In the recent order, Justice Jalan referred to a report from the tree officer, highlighting issues such as digging around five to six feet from the ground level, posing a risk to the tree’s root system. The report also pointed out the construction of a wall that could destabilize the root zone and the presence of unattended iron guarders/rods at the location.

While acknowledging remedial actions taken by the authorities, the court noted that the platform around the tree had not been removed to meet the support requirements of the tree.

(With PTI inputs)