New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the tree officer (South) to impose penalties on residents' welfare association (RWA) of the State Trading Corporation (STC) housing colony in Mehrauli after confirming the illegal felling of 17 trees and heavy pruning of 10 others in the complex. The directions came on a plea filed by an applicant earlier this year, alleging large-scale violation of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA) within the society. Following a probe, the forest department confirmed the illegal felling, following which the tree officer ordered the RWA to plant 300 saplings as compensatory plantation. An FIR under the DPTA was also filed. In its order on October 9, a bench of NGT chairperson jus...