Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken alleged that the BJP-led Central Government and the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Delhi are behind the decision to axe nearly 16,500 trees for construction of flats in Sarojini Nagar-Nauroji Nagar area.
Blaming BJP central leadership and the AAP ruled Delhi Government, Maken said that ever since they came to power, the green cover of Delhi witnessed a fast depletion as they kept felling trees without having any concern for environment.
Maken said that as far as forest cover is concerned, Delhi has lost about 0.2 square km of very dense forest and 0.9 sq km of moderately dense forest since 2015. “Nearly 15,000 trees have been cut down in Delhi since 2014 to April 2018. This does not include the 1,700 trees to be axed in Pragati Maidan for a new exhibition building,” he said.
He said that the residents in the city witnessed extreme pollution levels that went beyond dangerous level on many occasions. “Due the ever mounting pollution levels, people forced to leave Delhi,” he said.
Maken also said living in Delhi has become hazardous for people, particularly children and the old people, as respiratory diseases have been on the rise.