The Delhi Forest Division has initiated a probe into the ‘large-scale’ felling of bushes on the Nationwide Zoological Park, popularly often called the Delhi Zoo, following a criticism, senior officers mentioned Monday.
A senior forest official, requesting anonymity, mentioned, “The probe was launched two days in the past instantly after the division was alerted… {that a} large-scale tree offence has taken place. The matter is being investigated… solely based mostly on the end result, will probably be clear what precisely occurred, whether or not it was pruning or one thing else.”
In response to the allegations, Delhi Zoo Director Dr Sanjeet Kumar instructed The Indian Specific, “The Delhi Zoo is totally eco-friendly… We at all times be certain that bushes are usually not unnecessarily harmed in any method.”
He mentioned he was intimated concerning the matter after he noticed a couple of GPS map digital camera photographs that captured many uprooted bushes. “Final month, due to the winter, we lopped off the branches of some bushes and pruning was carried out so animals get satisfactory daylight. No objective is served by slicing bushes unnecessarily,” Kumar mentioned, including that the zoo authorities keep utmost care in such issues.
The Director was unsure concerning the precise variety of bushes that have been pruned and maintained that solely “previous uprooted bushes which don’t have any ecological worth” have been eliminated.
“The bushes have been harmful… To guard animals and to make sure a correct surroundings for winter migratory birds, a couple of instances of routine, upkeep work was carried out,” Kumar mentioned.
A senior forest official, requested concerning the subsequent plan of action, mentioned, “Relying on the information of the case, if there was an criminal activity, the subsequent step can be to concern a discover or take applicable authorized motion… As a part of the preliminary inquiry, the zoo authorities have clarified that as per administration and routine observe… solely lifeless bushes have been uprooted.”
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Underneath the Delhi Preservation of Bushes Act, nobody can lower or take away a tree, whether or not on their property or elsewhere, with out prior permission from the tree officer. Nonetheless, a landowner can lower a tree if it poses an instantaneous hazard to life, property or visitors however should inform the tree officer inside 24 hours of the felling.
