A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the SDMC to pay the amount for not taking care while deconcretising trees in Chittaranjan Park (CR Park) area here where two trees fell after their roots were completely exposed due to concrete removal work.
The tribunal said all the authorities had been warned time and again by it that they should be careful while using machinery to remove concrete from tree roots, despite which its directions have been "violated" by the corporation.
"In view of the above, we find this to be a fit case for action extending to imposition of punishment of civil imprisonment for violating the order of the Tribunal. However, we impose cost of an amount of Rs 50,000 to be paid by SDMC at the first instance for causing damage to the trees and the environment," the bench said, while hearing a contempt plea alleging violation of the tribunal's orders.
The NGT also directed the corporation to "do compensatory afforestation by planting 20 trees in the ratio of 1:10 for each fallen tree".