Key Points :
- The Delhi government on Friday announced a compulsory tree transplantation policy to curb pollution levels in the national capital.
- The new compulsory tree transplantation policy requires that at least 80% of trees uprooted for any construction or development project, must be transplanted elsewhere.
- This policy is an addition to the existing policy that requires the plantation of 10 saplings for every tree that is uprooted.
New Delhi : In addition to the existing compulsory tree plantation policy, The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government on Friday announced a compulsory tree transplantation policy to curb pollution levels in the national capital. The government also approved setting up a smog tower in Connaught place.
“Delhi government has passed a tree transplantation policy, under which 80% of trees uprooted for any construction or development project, must be transplanted elsewhere. Payment will be made to the transplantation agency only if 80% of transplanted trees survive for a year. The government is working on a panel of authorised agency to conduct these transplantations,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said. He announced the formation of a dedicated tree transplantation cell and the involvement of local committees to monitor transplanted trees.
The tree transplantation policy for development or construction projects is in addition to the compulsory plantation of trees policy already in place which demands that if a tree is uprooted, ten plants have to be planted.
“Till now the policy was that 10 saplings would be planted in return for cutting of one tree. According to the new policy, if a tree is cut, then 10 plants have to be planted, as well as transplanting will be done in a scientific way,” he said.
“Delhi government has also approved to set-up a ₹20 crore smog tower in Connaught Place. This is in addition to the central government’s smog tower which is coming up in Anand Vihar. This tower will suck the air from the top & release filtered air near the ground,” he told the news agency ANI.
Delhi in Winter witnesses a spike in the levels of air pollution due to subtle burning in the neighbouring states. Amidst the covid-19 outbreak the need to control air pollution has become more crucial as both can damage lungs, Kejriwal had said. According to the government, there are 13 points where pollution levels are high and The chief minister said that a detailed plan has been made will be implemented in each of those hotspots.
