Question : Impact of Cutting of Trees on Pollution

(a) whether the Government has granted permission to cut thousands of trees in Delhi for development activities and redevelopment of Government colonies, if so, the details thereof along with the number of trees cut so far;
(b) whether the Government has taken care of environmental aspect while granting such permission and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether such large scale cutting of trees adversely affect the environment and increase the already severe condition of air pollution in the city and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any study on the impact of loss of trees on increase of pollution level in Delhi and if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is aware about the agitation and protest by residents of Delhi and environment activists and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (e) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) accords prior environmental clearance for projects or activities listed in the Schedule to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 (and its amendments) after having followed the prescribed process in the said notification. The Ministry after having followed the prescribed process in the EIA Notification, 2006 has granted environmental clearance to the re-development of general pool residential colonies at Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and Thyagraj Nagar, subject to stipulation of various environmental safeguards in terms of the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Permission for cutting/felling of trees is under the jurisdiction of State Forest Department and NOC/permission before felling of trees is required to be obtained from them under the Delhi Preservation of Tree Act, 1994.

Environmental Clearances are granted with specific stringent conditions which are both project specific and general in nature as well as mitigative measures in accordance with the Environment Management Plan Report which is prepared on the basis of the study and are to be complied with by the project proponents. The compliance of these conditions is strictly assessed / evaluated / monitored by the concerned authorities at the State and Central level.
In order to protect the environment, different conditions were stipulated in the environmental clearances issued to these projects which inter-alia includes:

• The project proponent shall obtain all necessary clearance/ permission from all relevant agencies including town planning authority before commencement of work. All the construction shall be done in accordance with the local building byelaws.
• The project proponent shall obtain necessary clearance/ permission from concerned authority before felling any tree.
• The project proponent should comply with the directions given by the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal vide its Order dated 4th September, 2017 in the matter of OA No. 553 of 2016 and Order dated 22nd September, 2017 in the matter of MA No. 1154 of 2017 in OA No. 553 of 2016.
• A minimum of 1 tree for every 80 sqm of land should be planted and maintained. The existing trees will be counted for this purpose. Preference should be given to planting native species. Where the trees need to be cut, compensatory plantation in the ratio of 1:10 (i.e. planting of 10 trees for every 1 tree that is cut) shall be done and maintained in compliance with the directions given by the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal vide its Order dated 4th September, 2017 in the matter of OA No. 553 of 2016.


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