New Delhi, July 20 -- In a startling revelation, the Delhi Forest Department has told the Supreme Court that "fake permission", using the name of the deputy conservator of forests, was issued for tree felling in the Ridge area of Vasant Kunj for a housing project.
The deputy conservator of the West Forest Division had filed an affidavit on a plea by environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari, which contended that the said land was a morphological ridge protected by the top court's May 9, 1996, order. It said the court's prior permission was required for tree felling activity or before any diversion can be made.
"It is pertinent to mention that it had come to the attention of the answering respondent that a fake permission was issued for tre...