New Delhi: In an inspection by the forest department, 859 of 1,063 compensatory saplings were found to be surviving in four parks in west Delhi’s Paschim Vihar. Replacement work is underway for the remaining 204 dried up trees. In a report dated Jan 20, the forest department, along with MCD, inspected four parks on Jan 19 where saplings were planted. “It was found that in all four parks, regular cleaning of plants is required. For the safety of plants, a tree guard is also required,” the report said. The department also urged regular monitoring of all parks, noting that NHP Park at B3, saplings were planted under large shady trees. A local resident, Khyati Anand, filed a plea in NGT, alleging illegal lopping and pruning of over 250 trees in Paschim Vihar in Feb and March 2024. In April last year, a joint committee appointed by the tribunal found that 29 trees were heavily pruned, exceeding the permission for light pruning of 40 trees. The joint committee comprised members from the Union environment ministry, member secretary at Central Pollution Control Board, member secretary at Delhi Pollution Control Committee and district magistrate of north Delhi. The forest department asked MCD to plant 1,000 saplings for the violations.
