Concerned citizens are fearful about the colony’s green future as incidents of tree felling, even in protected Ridge forests, become commonplace
We all must have read the news that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) came under the fire of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, June 26 for not giving full information with respect to the Southern Ridge forest area where trees were cut in violation of the orders of the Court. The DDA Vice Chairperson is facing a contempt case for cutting down trees in the capital’s Green Lung ie. The Southern Ridge forest area including SAARC Chowk, Satbari near Chhattarpur where around 1,100 trees have allegedly been illegally cut by the DDA contravening the Environment Protection Laws. In 2023, the official data revealed that over 77,000 trees were permitted to be cut down or transplanted between 2019 and 2021. In addition, a large number of offences registered for illegal felling, damage, pruning and concretizing trees in the last three years remain pending, with offenders yet to submit even the fines in most cases.
The data also showed that only one-third of the trees transplanted during the same period survived. It has become extremely difficult to nurture new trees. Soil and air are becoming more polluted and water more scarce. This is why it is much more important to protect fully-grown trees rather than simply planting saplings. In the Vasant Kunj area large scale destruction and encroachment of the South Central Ridge was noticed recently by the ARWA Team of Sector A, Pocket C – just behind our Colony adjacent to the Tolani Bagh. ARWA had also complained about the same to Dy. Conservator of Forests West and South three years back.
Due to the constant follow-up a team of the Dy. Conservator of Forests – South came for inspection ten days back. There has been a large scale felling of trees and with the road being constructed in the Green belt. We all as concerned citizens need to make efforts to protect and also expand the green cover and report such type of infringements. The effect of the hot winds that buffeted the city recently and kept it boiling hot can be mitigated. Increasing the number of trees and creating green spaces can help cool the surrounding areas.
We have certain environmental obligations we need to keep for the future generation and the protection and expansion of the Green Cover is one of the foremost as we strive towards sustainable development.
