The central government's plan to cut around 17,000 trees in Delhi has run into a huge protest by people of Delhi, who have rubbished the government's plan to plant an equal number of saplings.
Saplings, they argue, cannot replace fully grown trees for years and the plan, they say, is a no-no for a city that's one of the most-polluted in the world.
A huge rally was held today in posh south Delhi -- an area that has the highest levels of pollution and stands to lose the most number of trees. At least 11,000 of the 17,000 trees will be cut down from Sarojini Nagar to make way for government flats, offices and commercial space. Sources, however, say at least 15 per cent of these flats will be for sale and the focus of the redevelopment is on commercial space.
An user, however, questioned, "Why didn't you consider to make accommodations in Dwarka or Rohini or outer Delhi minister Hardeep S Puri-ji? Don't you think this project of yours is lethal & unreasonable?"
His response met with a barrage of criticism.
"It is not just about a tree it is the entire ecosystem that thrives on it, the insects the birds the animals, over it chopping down a 50-year-old tree and replacing it with a sapling, how foolish! Afforestation is not the replacement for deforestation," one user responded.
A protest was called under the "Delhi Trees SOS" campaign.
Many complained, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to take over the housing ministry, where Mr Puri is the junior minister.
The Nauroji Nagar project, which has already started, is being touted as Delhi's first World Trade Centre. The project, approved by National Buildings Construction Corporation, has enraged activists, bringing the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing under much criticism.
"These trees are decades old fully-grown trees that provide shade and curb pollution. A sapling will take years to grow into a tree that big and given climate change, chances of its survival are too low," said Juhi Saklani, an environmentalist.
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