The Delhi Government has embarked upon a novel idea of counting trees across the city. Being termed as the ‘tree census’, the exercise is a first-of-its kind in Delhi, and is expected to help the city Government in preparing and implementing schemes to increase tree cover in the city.
Delhi Parks and Garden Society (DPGS) has roped in five RWAs and as many schools for its pilot project, before it is introduced across the city. The counting of trees is expected to begin by next week in five areas — Rohini, Dwarka, Mayur Vihar, Chittaranjan Park and Paschim Vihar.
It would be pertinent to mention that Mumbai is the first city to conduct a tree census in the country and so, Delhi would be the second city. The Delhi Government has been working on this project for the past two years.
Sources in the Government said 19 years after bringing in the enforcement of Tree Preservation Act in 1994, a tree census is all set to start by next week in Delhi in a bid to curb the declining number of trees in residential colonies. “The Government has asked Nerolac paint to provide eco-friendly paints for counting trees in Delhi. The counting would start with the help RWAs and members of DPGS, who have been given special training for this purpose,” said a source.
The residents of Sarvodaya Enclave in South Delhi have recently conducted a tree survey with the help of homemakers, children and environmentalists and it was found that it had 4,011 residents, 1,583 vehicles and 1,122 trees, several of which were in danger of dying due to rampant construction and unnecessary pruning. A total of 787 trees along the roads were numbered. The survey was conducted between 2011 and 2012. Similarly, a survey by an NGO also revealed that Samachar Apartment has 265 cars against 139 full-grown trees, and this number is expected to rise due to large scale of plantation.
The DPGS has claimed to have prepared an action plan. Data compiled in the process has shown that there are 414 species of trees of 270 genres in the Capital. Delhi's total green cover is 19.97 per cent. It is noteworthy that according to the State of the World's Cities, a report released by UN Habitat last year, ranked Delhi at 58 in the world green index among 95 cities.
In Delhi, where land is scarce, the green cover is often compromised for development projects, such as the expansion of the Metro, flyover or BRT.