HC Comes To The Rescue Of 300-Year-Old Banyan Tree In Chandni Chowk Damaged Due To Construction
A 'heritage' banyan tree in Delhi Chandni Chowk which has been left damaged due to the construction activities around got unexpected support from the Delhi High Court.
The tree located in Chandni Chowk's Kothi Barwali neighborhood is said to be planted in the 17th century is over 300 years old.?But due to some illegal construction activities, it has suffered some serious damages.??
On Thursday the Delhi High Court pulled up the Delhi Government and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for allowing the construction and ordered the take steps for its ¡°immediate restoration¡±.
According to Hindustan Times, Justice Najmi Waziri was astonished by the condition of the tree which had its aerial roots chopped and its trunk hemmed in by concrete.
Expressing his anguish and displeasure, Wazri said photographs show the ¡°horrific¡± condition of the ¡°grand old tree, which has seen the unfolding of the city¡±.
¡°How can you do this to a 300-year-old tree? It has existed even before the Britishers could even think of coming to India. It is a part of the heritage of this city. How can you damage it in this manner?¡± Wazri said.
According to Kushmakar Rastogi, a resident who filed an application impleading to save the banyan, said the tree used to be surrounded by houses on three sides.
¡°This property belonged to one Satyanarayan Gurwali, who was believed to be the richest man in the area about 300 years ago. His family planted this tree. There used to be melas under the tree and everyone from the neighbourhood used to gather around,¡± Rastogi said.
The court said strict action should be taken against the officers who in connivance with the builder have allowed the unauthorised construction to take place. The court later asked the authorities to work on ¡°war footing¡± to restore the tree. It asked the authorities to file a status report and also take criminal action, if required, against the erring persons.
