The National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ) and the Delhi chapter of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) have written to the Commissioner of Police and the Director General of the Railway Protection Force expressing their urgent attention to the grave offence and injustice, involving a hit-and-run incident against a young environmental activist and the inaction on the part of the Dwarka police to register an FIR, despite cognizance of the offence and complaint being made.
On 9th February 2025, 23-year-old Naveen Solanki from Shahbad Mohammedpur village, Sector-8, Dwarka who has been leading the fight to save 120 acres of the lush green Dwarka forest behind T3 Terminal of IGI Airport in Delhi was deliberately assaulted by a tractor belonging to Subhash Saini, a resident of the same village. Naveen has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the fragile forest ecosystem, from various threats which also include mixed-use construction projects by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).
“Subhash ordered his driver to run the tractor over Naveen, due to which one of the tractor rear tyres ran over both the feet of Naveen, causing severe injuries to his feet and mental trauma. After this, Subhash physically assaulted and verbally abused Naveen. Fortunately, Naveen escaped in time, but this could have cost his life. The tractor was being used to illegally dump construction and demolition (C & D) waste and other plastic waste in Dwarka forest. The Supreme Court had issued a stay order dated 17th September 2024, in Civil Appeal No. 10656/2024, explicitly prohibiting any construction and damage or felling of trees on the subject land. It is shocking that illegal dumping of waste continues unabated, in blatant violation of the Apex court’s orders. Despite the serious nature of the hit-and-run case, the local police refused to register an FIR, based on Naveen’s complaint. Navin has been receiving indirect threats not to pursue this issue and complaint further. We fear for his well-being and safety,” said Tannuja Chauhan from the ‘Save Dwarka Forest’ movement.
“We have urged the Commissioner of Police and the Director General of the Railway Protection Force to ensure the registration of an FIR against Subhash Saini and the driver involved in the hit-and-run case and take action as per law, investigate allegations of corruption by the officials and take strict action against any Police or Railway officers found complicit, provide adequate safety to Naveen Solanki and the Save Dwarka Forest campaigners and enforce the Supreme Court’s stay order to prevent further environmental damage to the Dwarka Forest and hold the violators accountable,” stated Soumya Dutta, a senior Environment Scientist and Member of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM).
“It is deeply disturbing that citizens trying to safeguard a forest in the nation’s capital which is reeling under the impacts of severe air pollution are being harassed, intimidated and injured in this manner instead of being saluted for their efforts. This is a very serious matter. What is even more concerning is how frequently such incidents are happening across India where citizens are being attacked for doing their duty under Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution which states that it is the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife,” stated Neelam Ahluwalia from the People for Aravallis group and a Member of the National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ), a grassroot movement of activists, ecologists, climate scientists, environmental researchers and lawyers, working to address the climate crisis, through an ecological and social justice approach, upholding human rights and co-existence of all species.
BACKGROUND ON THE DWARKA FOREST ISSUE
‘Dwarka Forest’ currently stands on land which was acquired by Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) from Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 2000s.This land was initially acquired in the 60s by DDA from the locals. The total size of the land is 110 hectares. From 2008, a natural forest grew on its own on the same land in about 120 acres. In 2022, RLDA, through its contractors, started cutting and burying trees alive in the forest without permission from the Forest Department of Delhi to do so for the redevelopment of Bijwasan Railway Terminal site and various other mixed-use buildings and were fined almost INR 6 for illegally felling 990 trees. RLDA paid the fine and continued destroying this forest by felling of trees and negatively impacting the habitat of wildlife living here.
The young Naveen Solanki from the ‘Save Dwarka Movement’ took the matter to the Supreme Court last year, in order to get protection status for this precious green lung of Delhi under the Forest Conservation Act. The SC bench of Justice Oka and Justice Mithal had ordered RLDA, Northern Railway, Ministry of Railways and Bagmane Developers to immediately halt all construction on the subject land and stop felling of trees as well.
