Worried about rising complaints of rampant cutting of trees by various alleged government and non-government authorities, the city government on Tuesday decided to set up a separate call centre to receive complaints about such incidents. The proposal was discussed at a meeting chief minister Sheila Dikshit had with top officials of environment department.
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who is also known for her nature-friendly activities, has asked the environment department officials to ensure compliance of compensatory plantation. She also asked the environment department to remove all kinds of signboards, electric wires and nails from the trees at the earliest.
Around 50 trees were felled and 40 trees were damaged in March by PWD while implementing a road widening project in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area. The residents had strongly protested cutting of the trees.
As per provision of Delhi Protection of Trees Act, 1994, 10 saplings have to be planted for felling of each tree.
“We are seriously considering setting up of a call centre to receive complaints of tree felling as people often find it difficult to register their complaints,” said a senior official.
Ms Dikshit has directed the environment department to chalk out a comprehensive action plan to plant between 10 and 15 lakh saplings during ensuing monsoon season.
“The department will soon launch a “well-conceived media campaign” to exhort people to join the plantation drive. They said Ms Dikshit directed the environment department to concentrate planting saplings around shopping malls, bus depots, Aero city, schools, colleges and government offices The chief minister also asked the department to take proper care of the saplings,” the official said.
The official claimed the environment department had raised more than 45 lakh tree saplings since the year 2000, while other agencies have raised over 82 lakh saplings in the last 13 years.