The Delhi High Court on Thursday (Sep 6) allowed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to resume the construction work on their ongoing projects and permitted cutting of trees if needed.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar Rao clarified that tree cutting was disallowed in the area covering seven projects which were being re-developed by NBCC and apart from that area, tree cutting was allowed in other regions for the constructions.

The bench was acting on the intervening applications by NHAI and SDMC seeking clarification on its previous order which had barred NBCC to stop tree cutting trees and stop construction pertaining to the re-development of seven colonies.

During the course of proceedings, the NHAI said that due its previous order the construction work pertaining to one of its project from Muquarba Chowk to Panipat is being hampered as it disallowed cutting of tree.

To which the bench clarified that the cutting of trees was disallowed in the area covering seven projects.

The matter will heard again on October 3.

—India Legal Bureau