Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai has asked the forest department to stop giving tree felling permission for projects in the city until further orders, The Indian Express has learnt.
In a letter sent last week, Rai asked the department to give details of how many trees have been felled in the city over the past two years, and compensatory plantation done for the trees felled. The letter, which was confirmed by two officials, states, “No permission of felling of trees will be issued until further orders.”
The direction comes at a time when the forest department has had run-ins with the DMRC and Indian Army, over projects in the city. A proposal to cut 17,000 trees for Delhi’s third ring road being developed by NHAI has also been made in a draft environmental impact assessment report submitted to the DPCC.
