AAP plans ‘ Chipko- like’ protest to save city trees
Centre planning to cut 17,000 trees, says party
New Delhi, June 22: AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj on claimed that the Centre was planning to cut a whopping 17,000 trees in the national capital as part of its redevelopment plan, even as the party mulls a Chipko movement- like protest against the move.
The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs had on Thursday said 14,031 trees would be cut out of the existing 21,040 trees for the redevelopment of seven south Delhi colonies of Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Mohammadpur, Sriniwaspuri, Kasturba Nagar and Thyagaraj Nagar. He claimed that the plan involved construction of flats for the politicians and bureaucrats.
On being asked whether his party would adopt a campaign similar to the Chipko movement, he said, “It is a good idea. We’ll think about it”. The Chipko movement was started in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand in 1970s by environmentalist S. Bahuguna.
He added 17,000 trees would be cut as part of the plan with the Centre planning to cut “11,000 trees in Sarojini Nagar itself ”. He accused the Centre of failing to address environmental safety concerns of the city.