Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai
The Kejriwal government has objected to the cutting of 1100 trees in the reserved forest area of ​​South Delhi. A meeting of government ministers was held in this regard on Saturday. Cabinet Minister Atishi participated online due to ill health. Environment Minister Gopal Rai raised the question that who gave the order to cut these trees? He said that a 3-member committee has been formed unanimously to find out the truth. Including Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, Atishi and Imran Hussain.
He said that a hearing is going on in the Supreme Court on trees cut without permission. The court wants to know on whose orders these trees were felled. The three-member committee will submit its report to the Supreme Court.
Delhi Government is committed to green space
In a press conference with Cabinet Ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Imran Hussain, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government is very serious about protecting the people of Delhi from natural disasters like pollution and heat waves. The government is working to increase the green belt. In the last assembly elections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave 10 guarantees to the people of Delhi. An assurance was given that the green area in Delhi would be increased by planting 2 crore saplings in 5 years.
He said that we are happy that with the cooperation of all concerned agencies we have achieved the target of planting 2 crore saplings in just 4 years. People’s concern has increased after the heat wave this year. Keeping this in mind, the government along with all the agencies has decided to plant 64 lakh saplings in the next financial year.
The hearing is going on in the Supreme Court
Gopal Rai said that in the meantime, a shocking incident has come to light from Satbari, Chhatarpur, Delhi. He said that in February, 1100 trees were illegally felled here in violation of the rules. The hearing of this case is going on in the Supreme Court. The court is repeatedly asking the DDA vice-chairman on whose orders 1100 trees were felled in capital Delhi. The court has asked the DDA vice-chairman to file his reply till the next hearing. Also, in the hearing held on June 26, the Supreme Court asked the Forest Department to file a status report.
The forest department was accused of not responding
Gopal Rai said that on June 26 at 4.30 pm, he held a meeting with the officials of the Forest Department at the Delhi Secretariat. In which the forest department sent two notices to the DDA on March 5 and 22 regarding illegal felling of trees in two different areas of Delhi, but no response was received. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the written report of the events from February till now was instructed to be submitted by 11 am on June 27. But as the report did not arrive till 11 pm, our office contacted the forest department officials. On which he said that first you give us a written notice then we will give all the report. After this, we gave a written notice to the forest department to send us a report of all the facts by 11 am on June 28 along with the minutes of the meeting. But even on June 28, we did not get any report.
The report of the committee was asked to be submitted to the Supreme Court
Gopal Rai said that this is a very serious matter. People of Delhi are facing crisis. We are trying to grow a tree together in Delhi. On the other hand, 1100 trees were cut. This will not be recorded at any cost. He said that even after sending the reminder notice, the forest department has not given its report. Gopal Rai said that the committee which has been formed will get information about trees in Delhi. After this we will also place it before the Supreme Court.
