KISHORE DEEPAK KODWANI Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, COLLECTOR OFFICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ON 28.07.2014 the Tribunal had recorded that for the 'Urban agglomeration' of the city of Indore there was plan for planting approximately of 2.5 lakh trees and that the drive would be carried out through various agencies including the Indore Municipal Corporation.

(2.) SHRI Sachin K. Verma, Learned Counsel was directed to submit a copy of the consolidated plan for carrying out the aforesaid drive. Today, Shri Sachin K. Verma clarified that the planting of 2.5 lakh trees was not confined to the Urban agglomeration area of the city of Indore alone but for the entire District. Shri Sachin K. Verma, Learned Counsel has today by means of Misc. Application No. 417/2014 given the details and prayed for the same to be taken on record about the manner in which the plantation work in the urban limits and various forest areas is to be carried out. The details are furnished in the annexed documents as Annexure R -1, R -2 & R -3 which are to be carried out by the Forest Department for planting of about 20800+37912 trees, the Municipal Corporation, Indore which in turn shall be carrying out plantation of nearly 8698 trees and the Indore Development Authority (IDA) about 20158 trees. In the said information it has also been provided the amount which has been allocated for the plantation work and the names of the persons who will be responsible for carrying out the aforesaid task so far as the Municipality is concerned and also the details and the procedure to be adopted by the IDA for carrying out the plantation as well as maintenance and protection of the trees to be planted. The site plan (Annexure R -4) has also been filed indicating in green colour the areas (scheme) in which the IDA is going to carry out the plantation work during the current year.

(3.) IT was rightly pointed out by the Applicant that in the past several years, crores of rupees has been spent and it is claimed that lakhs of trees were planted over the years, however, the census which was ordered by this Tribunal has pointed out and brought out the factual position that in the urban agglomeration of the city of Indore, only about 85,000 trees exist which also includes, to a large extent the trees planted by individuals, household owners which account for majority of such existing trees in the city of Indore. We would therefore, impress upon all concerned, particularly respondents to introspect with regard to the claims which have been made by all the concerned regarding the large scale planting of trees as claimed by them and see the factual position which has been brought out by them before this Tribunal regarding the present trees existing in the city of Indore.