Lok Sabha Question No. 2065 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Felling of Trees
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: UDIT RAJ

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2065

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

## Felling of Trees

2065.     DR. UDIT RAJ:

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

- (a) whether in the recent past felling of 16500 trees in the name of redevelopment has been stayed by the High Court and NGT for the time being, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Delhi  Development  Authority,  Government  of  Delhi  and  Union  Government propose to come up with a plan to stop the said felling of trees  and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  manner  in  which  Government  proposes  to  compensate  the  damage  caused  to  the environment due to felling of trees; and
- (d) whether the Government is likely to make alternate arrangement to check damage being caused to the environments, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) Hon'ble National Green Tribunal, New Delhi in O.A. No. 410 of 2018 in the matter of Society  for  Protection  of  Culture,  Heritage,  Environment,  Traditions  and  Promotions  of National Awareness vide its Order dated 02.07.2018 issued direction to maintain Status-quo, particularly in the matter relating to felling of the trees and it was directed that there shall be no felling/cutting/destruction of the trees till further order by this Tribunal.

Further, Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in the W.P.(C) 6680 of 2018 in the matter of Dr. Kaushal Kant Mishra  Vs Union of India & Ors vide its Order dated 04.07.2018 inter alia directed  that  till  further  hearing  in  the  matter,  the  respondent  shall  stand  prohibited  from cutting down or removal of any tree pursuant to permissions which have been granted by the Tree Officer without leave of the court.

(b) National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) India Limited under the Ministry of Housing & Urban  Affairs has informed that on the order of Hon'ble High Court, Ministry of Housing & Urban  Affairs  filed  a  detailed Affidavit  in  the  Hon'ble  High  Court  stating that  proposals  of  all  six  General  Pool  Residential  Accommodation  (GPRA)  colonies  have been reviewed, whereas only 6997 nos. of trees shall be affected. It was further proposed to avoid  cutting  of trees  to  the  maximum extent  and  instead  transplantation  of  the affected trees shall be done within the site or in  the  vicinity,  in  a  phased  manner  by engaging specialized  agencies  for  such transplantation  ensuring  survival  rate  to the maximum.

Compensatory plantation  shall  also  be  done  at  the  project  site  at  the  first  instance,  on  the available area in phases during construction.

(c) NBCC (India) Limited under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has informed that  Government  proposes  to  compensate  the  damage  caused  to  the  environment  due  to felling of trees by avoiding cutting of trees to the maximum extent, transplant the affected trees within the site or in the vicinity and by Compensatory Plantation of 10 trees in place of every affected trees (which also include transplanted trees).

(d) NBCC (India) Limited under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has informed that after redevelopment, GPRA colonies will become greener and smarter, since the ground coverage has been kept at about 20% against the permissible 33.33% and there will be more open and green spaces. The fresh water demand in post redevelopment will be less than the current  supply  of  water  due  to  recycling  and  reuse.  Rain  water  harvesting,  Solid  Waste Management,  Sewage  Treatment  Plant,  Solar  energy  utilization  and  all  other  specific stringent conditions given in the environmental clearance shall be complied to preserve and protect environment to the maximum possible extent.

*******