Tree felling will change Delhi's weather: PIL

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Friday sought the Centre and AAP government’s stand on a PIL claiming that environmental degradation caused due to felling of trees in the national capital will led to serious changes in weather patterns and water scarcity here.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar issued notice to the environment ministry and Delhi government and sought their reply to the plea claiming that felling of trees in the city could lead to reduction in the atmospheric water content.

The court listed the matter for hearing with other similar PILs on August 16.

The plea by Delhi residents Rohit Kumar and Abhishek Gupta has sought directions to the authorities to frame proper guidelines for future construction projects based on the principles of sustainable development, public trust doctrine and intergenerational equity.

Senior advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen and advocate Prashant Shandilya, appearing for the petitioners, contended that there would be a detrimental effect on the overall ecology of the city if cutting of trees for construction projects went unchecked.

“Apart from air pollution, another problem which is at sight for the citizens of the Delhi is the issue of water scarcity. Delhi’s water cycle has been completely disturbed from last many years, and we are experiencing the annual decline in the rainfall and thus the water shortage especially in summer months,” the petition has said.