Giving into the outpouring of concern and outrage by the citizens of Delhi, the Centre has decided to rework the design for the remaining redevelopment of south Delhi colonies to avoid further cutting down of trees.
The decision to redesign the project was taken on Thursday evening at a meeting chaired by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Hardeep Singh Puri. Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal participated in the meeting along with senior officials of the Union Ministry and the Delhi Development Authority. Heads of the Central Public Works Department and NBCC, which are the agencies carrying out the redevelopment projects were also present. The original plan called for the felling of almost 17,000 trees. At least 1,500 trees have already been cut for the redevelopment of Nauroji Nagar and Netaji Nagar. Tree-hugging protests, candlelight vigils and campaigns on social media have been part of widespread citizen protests over the last week.
‘Law of the land’
“We are governed by the law of the land, which says that whenever trees are cut, 10 more must be planted...We had all the permissions, and similar legal procedure was followed in the case of Moti Bagh and East Kidwai Nagar. But, considering that it is now bothering the citizens of Delhi, we have reconsidered,” MoHUA Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra told The Hindu, when asked why the decision had been taken at this time.
Asked about the financial implications of the redesign, Mr. Mishra said, “There is no estimate of the costs as yet, but definitely, the cost of not doing it is much more.”
Meanwhile, the L-G has been advised to set up a group of experts and citizens concerned to interact on environmental issues and further actions to be taken in respect of these colonies, said the statement.
Damage control mode
The NBCC which is responsible for the redevelopment of Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar has faced much flak. It has floated an “Expression of Interest” for the acquisition of tree re-location and transplantation equipment for engaging the services of trained professional entities in this respect. Citizens groups will be invited to suggest where the transplanted trees will be planted, said Mr. Mishra.
The government had already taken a decision in January to transplant one million trees in Delhi.
The transplanting of these trees — which are not saplings, but trees of between 8 and 12 feet in height — will now be completed in the next three months during the monsoon season, said the statement. In fact, the DDA on its own will transplant a million trees, while the NBCC, the CPWD and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will together transplant almost one lakh more trees.