On Tuesday, a resident of Himachal Flats in Dwarka’s Sector 5 was alarmed when he noticed a number of timber had been felled on a close-by plot.
When he took his canine out for a stroll the following morning, he claimed, he discovered a bulldozer clearing up a portion of the plot. “I instantly knowledgeable the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Division and Delhi Police. The officers got here to the spot inside half-hour and referred to as senior Central Public Works Division (CPWD) officers on the location,” mentioned Chetan Sharma, 38.
Sahil Lochhab, a forest beat officer in command of the matter, confirmed the difficulty was introduced to note after the resident contacted them by way of a helpline. “The land belongs to the Nationwide Institute of Immunology. The tree-felling exercise was carried out as a part of establishing a brand new authorities constructing construction,” Lochhab mentioned.
The Forest Division has deployed personnel in a single day to observe the location and a probe has been launched within the matter. Amit Gemawat, DCF West confirmed {that a} case has been registered beneath DPTA (Delhi Preservation of Bushes Act, 1994).
“We should not have a affirmation about what number of timber have been illegally lower. We’re checking the girth measurement to find out that. A heavy penalty shall be imposed on the individuals involved,” Lochhab instructed The Indian Categorical. Based on sources, over 50 timber of various species have been allegedly lower.
Part 9 of the DPTA mandates that an software needs to be submitted to the tree officers involved earlier than felling a tree. The choice by the officer is required to be offered inside 60 days. For situations the place greater than 50 timber must be felled, permission must be sought by the Supreme Courtroom-enabled Central Empowered Committee, as per an SC directive final December.
Expressing shock on the timber being felled, Sharma mentioned, “Until yesterday, we couldn’t even think about coming into the land due to the density of timber together with shrubs and a wide range of grasses. It was like a mini-forest; there have been round 30-40 hen species…however the whole lot modified in a single day. I woke as much as see it disappear.”
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