In the past two years, 1,626 trees were axed in Dehradun city after being labelled ‘dangerous’ which is nearly double the 827 trees axed after being labelled dangerous from 2000 to 2010. This information secured from the Forest Department under the Right to Information Act by Citizens For Green Doon (CFGD) points towards the misuse of the provision for axing trees which pose a danger to property or life.
Addressing the media, CFGD chief coordinator Dr Nitin Pandey said that last year 371 fruit trees were axed in Dehradun with permission from the Forest Department.
“The Government and public are expressing concern about fruit trees disappearing from the city which was once known for its litchi orchards but the department has a relaxed attitude towards allowing the axing of fruit trees for various reasons,” he said.
Referring to trees being labelled dangerous, he said that it is obvious that the authorities have found an easy excuse to allow tree felling while the trees which really pose a danger are left unattended.
“The process of identifying dangerous trees is subjective and most of the trees are felled wrongly. From last year, under public pressure, the department has started asking for photographs of dangerous trees along with applications for felling but a survey of such photos using the RTI Act showed that 95 per cent of such photos did not show anything which was dangerous. The Forest Research Institute had given us a letter with 10 points to be considered for labelling a tree dangerous. We had submitted this to the principal chief conservator of forest and received only verbal assurance and no action from him.”
CFGD members said that for departmental officers, trees appear to be mere statistics because the officers have no attachment to Dehradun city and its greenery. The officials are acting carelessly in granting permission for axing trees which is proving detrimental to the environment of Dehradun. Pandey, Ruchi Singh Rao and Himanshu Arora were also present in the Press conference.
Permission for axing trees labelled dangerous has been granted on flimsy grounds like the branch of a tree touching the neighbouring building, leaves shed by a tree dropping in the neighbouring compound and affecting the relations of neighbours and birds on trees affecting crops.
There are other cases like one in which the department allowed the axing of 24 trees for constructing two rooms. CFGD members Sonia