New Delhi: Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared a standard operating procedure allowing individuals, RWAs, and land-owning agencies to prune or fell trees in “emergency situations” under Section 8 of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 (DPTA).Sirsa clarified that while Section 8 of the DPTA generally prohibits the felling, removal, or disposal of trees without prior permission from the Tree Officer, it includes provisions for emergency situations where a tree poses an immediate threat to life, property, or traffic. In such cases, individuals or responsible agencies may take action after they report it to the Tree Officer within 24 hours.The forest dept has issued guidelines outlining circumstances that may warrant immediate pruning or removal. These include cases where trees are obstructing roads, bridges, drains, or sewer lines; damaging buildings or heritage structures; interfering with Metro or Railway infrastructure; or where trees are dried, dead, or leaning precariously, posing a risk of falling. In such instances, the concerned party must upload a report on the DPTA e-Forest portal within 24 hours, which must include photos from at least three angles, site geo-coordinates, justification for the action, and post-action images. These will be treated as valid compliance under the Act. Sirsa warned that any misuse under the emergency clause would attract strict legal action.
