Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj Accuses LG Vinay Kumar Saxena of Illegal Tree Cutting

Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has accused Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena of illegally cutting 1,100 trees in a protected Ridge area in Delhi. Bharadwaj stated that the Supreme Court exposed Saxena’s actions, which were carried out without any permission.

Bharadwaj explained that trees are crucial for Delhi, and despite efforts to plant many, only a few survive. He emphasized that the remaining greenery is due to the courts, especially the Supreme Court. He revealed that on February 3, Saxena, who is also the Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), visited the Satbari area in Chhattarpur, and subsequently, 1,100 full-grown trees were cut without permission.

An NGO raised questions about the tree cutting, and the Supreme Court rejected the DDA’s request for permission on March 4. The NGO later informed the court that the trees had been cut before permission was sought, leading to a contempt of court charge and criminal charges against the DDA’s Vice Chairman.

Bharadwaj demanded Saxena’s resignation on moral grounds, stating that he has no right to hold the post of LG. This controversy comes amid a water shortage in Delhi, with AAP leader Atishi on an indefinite hunger strike since June 21, protesting for Delhi’s water rights from Haryana.