MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)
(a) & (b): Except wind fallen/concretised trees, trees in Delhi are removed in accordance with the provisions
contained in the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and rules made
thereunder.
The number of trees on the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) land, fallen or got uprooted due to age and
natural reasons like storms, etc during each of the last three years and the current year is as under:
Year Number of trees fallen due to wind, etc
2007-08 71
2008-09 92
2009-10 84
2010-11 (till date) 52
The number of trees fallen/got uprooted/were chopped in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation
of Delhi (MCD) during each of the last three years and the current year is as under:
Year Trees got uprooted due Chopped due to concretization to rain and storm of pavements and civil works
2007-08 63 2
2008-09 261 165
2009-10 245 556
2010-11 (till date) 283 187
The year-wise details of trees fallen/ got uprooted during each of the last three years and the
current year in the area under the management of the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) are as under:
Year Number of trees fallen due to wind, etc
2007 11
2008 5
2009 2
2010 (till date) Nil
However, no tree was cut/chopped by the DCB on account of concretisation of pavements and other civil works.
(c) and (d): No such study has been conducted by the Department of Forests and Wildlife of the Government
of NCT of Delhi, the MCD and the DCB. However, the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun carried out the
survery of health of trees on around 48 roads and Central Vista in the NDMC area. A total of 6288 trees
were inspected out of which, 5507 trees were found healthy, 435 trees dead or decayed, 86 trees deformed,
221 trees diseased and physical injury on 145 trees. Out of these, 196 trees were recommended for removal
/treatment. The action taken by the NDMC in this regard includes removal of dry and dead trees; treating
fungal, termite and insect infected trees; treating and filling cavities; regular pruning of trees, training
of staff, etc.
(e) to (h): A number of steps have been taken by the civic agencies to protect the health of trees in their
areas. The steps taken by the NDMC include maintaining the area around trees as green soft space to provide
aeration and moisture to trees; support to young saplings and trees through tree guards, watering,
appropriate pruning and manuring; routine inspection of trees by Plant Protection Cell for any
fungal, insect, pest and termite infestation; training of field staff through Forest Research
Institute, Dehradun and IARI, New Delhi; introduction of a tree ambulance to take care of tree
maintenance requirements, including health of trees; provision of a tree washer for washing of
trees; etc. The steps taken by the MCD include leaving sufficient uncemented space around the
trees to allow water to percolate in the root zone of trees; removal of diseased branches;
application of anti-termite pesticides; filling up the hollow in the stem by cement for giving
it a longer life, etc. Timely pruning of trees is done by the DCB to prevent felling of trees.
In adition, new saplings are planted regularly by the DCB for eco-friendly environment.
The number of new saplings planted by the MCD and the NDMC during each of the last three years
and the current year is as under:
Year Number of new saplings Number of new saplings planted by the MCD planted by the NDMC
2007-08 180514 20411
2008-09 194447 20093
2009-10 197105 20000
2010-11 179534 (till date) 12878 (till October, 2010)
No specific allocations in this regard have been made in the budget of the MCD. However, the MCD carries
out the above-mentioned works as maintenance of horticulture work. The allocation made and expenditure
incurred by the Horticulture Department of the MCD during each of the last three years and the current
year are as under:
Amount in lakh rupees
Year Allocation Expenditure
2007-08 3940.49 2686.94
2008-09 5548.80 3534.45
2009-10 4843.10 4093.70
2010-11 (till date) 4822.15 3303.99
The Horticulture Department of the NDMC takes care of such needs from its overall annual budget. The details
of the Department’s budget allocation and utilisation during each of the last three years and the current
year are as under:
Amount in lakh rupees
Year Budget Expenditure
2007-08 275.00 259.54
2008-09 275.00 244.29
2009-10 475.00 351.80
2010-11 (till 475.00 387.87
October, 2010)
