Making its intention of getting to the root of the matter clear, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rapped not only the Delhi Development Authority but also the Delhi government for illegal tree cutting in the ridge area, which is an extension of the Aravallis. Ordering criminal action against the DDA officials responsible for the lapse, the court said there had been “a fantastic lapse” on the part of the Delhi government, under whom the Tree Authority is supposed to function. 

While the allegation is that 1,100 trees have been cut in the area, the DDA has said that the number is 623 and the felling was done for the widening of a road.