Green activist starts crowdfunding to stop felling of 1,713 trees
ENVIRONMENTALIST VERHAEN KHANNA SAYS HE IS TRYING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR COURT AND LAWYER’S FEE AND PRINTING COST
A Delhi-based environmentalist has started a crowdfunding campaign to stall felling of 1,713 trees in the heart of the city.
This comes after HT had last week reported that more than 1,700 trees may be felled to give way to the integrated exhibitioncum-convention centre at Pragati Maidan, as revealed by an RTI query.
Environmentalist Verhaen Khanna, the founder of New Delhi Nature Society, says he is trying to raise funds for printing costs, lawyer’s and court fee.
“As we are all aware, this city has the highest air pollution on the planet, so losing 1,713 healthy big trees in the heart of the city will lead to severe health damage to lakhs of residents. Replacing these trees with tiny decorative plants will not help us with all the demolition and construction of such a vast land space. We benefit more from the trees than an exhibition building with all of its pollution involved,” the petition on portal ImpactGuru, which aims to raise ₹1 lakh, says.
Green activists have already raised concerns as more than 15,000 trees have been felled in the capital over the last three years. While more than 6,000 were cut in 2014-15, around 4,600 and 4,700 trees were felled in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
“Just last year we experienced the severe air pollution which gave Delhi the tag of most polluted city on the planet... Considering the current situation, it is important that all new constructions of buildings, roads etc must adapt to the natural environment while focusing on the health of Delhi residents,” Khanna said.
Forest officials have already issued permission for cutting down these trees as per the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act and the required fees has also been deposited.
“They have not got any Environment Impact Assessment clearance but still got permission to cut these trees from the forest department. There is a Tree Authority, which is supposed to clear these kind of projects, under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. On paper it is there but doesn’t meet or act,” advocate Aditya Prasad, who had filed the RTI, said.