Concerned over rampant cutting of trees to implement various infrastructure projects, the Delhi Government is considering setting up of a call centre to receive complaints regarding similar issues. This has been decided at a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday.
The residents have been facing difficulties in registering complaints on tree cutting or felling and apprehensions of such incidents, resulting in obstacles for the department in taking a proactive step.
The meeting was attended by Secretary (Environment) Sanjiv Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests AK Shukla and other officers of the Forest Department. It is noted that the Public Works Department (PWD) cut down around 50 trees and damaged 40, while implementing a road-widening project in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj area. The residents had strongly protested the cutting of trees.
She further directed the department to chalk out a comprehensive action plan to plant around 10-15 lakh saplings in the ensuing monsoon season. The department is also planning a well-conceived media campaign to exhort one and all to join in a plantation drive. Dikshit asked the department to continue the zeal during its drive. The department would make saplings available for free at various petrol pumps, mother dairy booths, Government offices; and would also involve school children, eco-clubs, RWAs, trade associations, NGOs and all other interested agencies in the plantation drive. Dikshit underlined the need for improvement in the survival rate of the planted saplings. The Department has achieved a survival rate of over 80 per cent in the past.
Dikshit also directed the department to strictly enforce provisions of the Delhi Protection of Trees Act, 1994. The department has raised 2.54 lakh saplings as compensatory plantation on behalf of the user agencies since 2010-11 as a commitment of raising five tree saplings, for each permission for felling, under the Act.
The Chief Minister also instructed that a close eye on the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) be maintained as around 15,000 trees are proposed for felling under DMRC Phase-III and the land has also been identified for compensatory plantation by the department. Dikshit further instructed that all signboards, names, advertisements, any kind of signages, electric wires, nails and high tension cables also be removed from the trees.