New Delhi: The construction of an integrated multi-sport arena, including a cricket stadium, in Dwarka’s Sector 19B is likely to impact 2,035 trees, the forest and wildlife department has informed National Green Tribunal. The department claimed that no tree had been felled illegally or damaged at the site so far. The submission was made following an inspection of the 20.3-hectare project site. The inspection was ordered after the tribunal received a plea alleging that trees were felled without permission.Officials handling the matter told NGT that most of the trees being impacted “are vilayati kikar (Prosopis juliflora) while around 20,000 native trees had already been planted as compensatory afforestation”.The project is being executed by Delhi Development Authority through a private builder via a public-private partnership model. The submission, dated Sept 16, says the department carried out the detailed field inspection on Sept 1, finding all trees to be numbered correctly, with none damaged or felled. The project has now been sent to the Supreme Court-appointed central empowered committee for further approvals.In its report, the department said the site had 2,266 trees, out of which 2,035 would be removed. This includes 266, which have been recommended for transplantation, while 1,769 trees will be felled.All trees at the site are found to be in order as per the tree list and are marked with a unique number and colour coding, the report stated. “No offence like tree cutting, felling, pruning or root damage has been noticed within the project premises,” it emphasised. The report also added that the private construction company had earlier, between May and Aug, informed the department about 173 trees in the area that fell due to heavy rain and strong winds. The department said its inspection revealed these 173 trees were not part of the project site, but the contractor would be asked to undertake compensatory plantation for these trees as per the standard operating procedure. The project will see a premium commercial sports complex being developed, along with a club and a five-star hotel with ample parking space.Any project in the city requiring more than 50 trees to be felled requires approval by the SC-appointed committee under Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. The department said the committee would carry out another inspection soon, which would take the final decision on the trees to be felled or transplanted.
