Lok Sabha Question No. 262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Cutting of Trees
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 262

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2017

## Cutting of trees

## 262.  SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether cutting of trees has any adverse effect on environment and climate change;
- (b) if so, the number of trees cut down in Delhi during the last three years, yearwise;
- (c)  whether the policy of planting two trees for every tree cut was followed and if so, the places where trees were planted;
- (d) if not, whether any action will be taken against the responsible persons; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) As per the information received from Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education,  Dehradun,  an  autonomous  body  of  the  Ministry  of  Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, cutting of trees has adverse effect  on  environment  and  climate  change.  Published  literature  reveals  that forests  provide  many  environmental  benefits/ecosystem  services  and  play  a major  role in regulating water cycle, soil conservation, climate  change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Deforestation/cutting of trees influence  wind  flow,  water  vapour  flow,  absorption  of  solar  energy  and emission of greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide) thus clearly influencing local, regional and global climate.
- (b) As per the report received from the Government of National Capital Territory, Delhi, total number of trees cut in Delhi during 2014-15, 2015-16 , 2016-17 for development activities and construction of buildings is as follows:
- (c) to (e) As per provisions under Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, 10 tree saplings are planted and maintained till its establishment against tree felling permission for  a  tree.  Out  of  10  saplings,  5  saplings  are  planted  and  maintained  by Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of National Capital Territory

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Trees cut |
|----------|------------------|-------------|
|        1 | 2014-15          |        6161 |
|        2 | 2015-16          |        4689 |
|        3 | 2017-18          |        4759 |

of  Delhi on degraded forest land and Gaon Sabha land etc available with the Department and the remaining saplings are planted and maintained by the User Agency allowed for tree felling permission. The details of tree planted by the Department in last three years are given in the Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO PART (c) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. NO. 262 DUE FOR REPLY ON 18.07.2017 REGARDING CUTTING OF TREES ASKED BY SHRI KIRTI AZAD

## 2014-15

| S. No.   | Name of Plantation Site              |   No. of Plants Planted |
|----------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1.       | Kondli STP Premises                  |                    6978 |
| 2.       | Garhi Mandu Pkt M1                   |                    1992 |
| 3.       | Shastri park Metro Station DPTA Land |                    1500 |
| 4.       | Garhi Mandu Pocket C1                |                    3900 |
| 5.       | Ghummanhera                          |                    5000 |
| 6.       | Kharkari Jatmal                      |                    8200 |
| 7.       | Jhatikara                            |                    4200 |
| 8.       | Savda                                |                    4113 |
| 9.       | Alipur City Forest                   |                    1500 |
| 10.      | Harevali                             |                    2850 |
| 11.      | Mukhmelpur Pkt-B                     |                    3000 |
| 12.      | Mukhmelpur Pkt-E                     |                    1500 |
| Total    | Total                                |                   44733 |

## 2015-16

| S. No.   | Name of Plantation Site               |   No. of Plants Planted |
|----------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1.       | Shastri Park near Metro Station       |                    8800 |
| 2.       | Shastri Park near Shastri Park colony |                    8000 |
| 3.       | Taj Enclave near Geeta Colony         |                    2350 |
| 4.       | Ghazipur drain (NGT order)            |                    1206 |
| 5.       | Malikpur                              |                    3000 |
| 6.       | Kharkari Jatmal                       |                    1750 |
| 7.       | Rithala                               |                     310 |
| 8.       | Alipur                                |                    1405 |
| Total    | Total                                 |                   26821 |

## 2016-17

| S. No.   | Name of Plantation Site         |   No. of Plants Planted |
|----------|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1.       | Shastri Park Bela farm 9.15 ha. |                   17288 |
| 2.       | Ghumanhera                      |                     600 |
| 3.       | Mitraon                         |                    1220 |
| 4.       | Nasirpur                        |                    2000 |
| 5.       | Kharkari Jatmal                 |                    1660 |
| 6.       | Alipur                          |                    2200 |
| 7.       | Malikpur                        |                    5605 |
| 8.       | Mukhmelpur                      |                    4000 |
| Total    | Total                           |                   34573 |

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