Delhi — ‘170 colonies in forest area can’t be regularised’

The Delhi government’s Department of Forests and Wildlife made the submission before Justice G S Sistani and Justice A J Bhambhani, after they were asked to clarify the effect of directions to regularise unauthorised colonies in Delhi on areas falling under notified forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries.

Delhi government’s Additional Standing Counsel Sanjoy Ghose, while placing the affidavit, apprised it of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which had ordered that prior approval of the Central government is required for any non-forest activity within the area of any forest.

It said that there are “currently 170 unauthorised colonies, in which a part or full colony fall under different categories of forest areas, under the jurisdictions of North Division (4 colonies), South Division (114 colonies), and West Division (52 colonies).”