In Photos: 14,000 Trees in Delhi Under Threat From Centre’s Axe

The Forest Department gave the permission to chop thousands of trees despite alarming pollution levels in Delhi.

Delhi’s citizens had taken out back-to-back protests on consecutive days following the controversial decision.

(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Delhi’s citizens are up in arms against the Centre’s decision to chop down at least 14,000 trees for the redevelopment of six South Delhi colonies by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

With placards and candle marches, the citizens’ bodies held their very own ‘Chipko’ movement in the capital on consecutive days.

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

The protest was reportedly organised by a cluster of organisations including the DelhiTreesSOS, Help Delhi Breathe, and Jhatakaa Organisation. The organisations have also begun an online petition to stop the government from cutting down the trees.

Although initially the Delhi High Court had declined to put an interim order against the controversial decision after a petition was filed against the move, on Monday, 25 June, the HC put a hold on further felling of trees until the next hearing.

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Rubbishing misleading reports that said around 21,000 trees were expected to be cut in seven colonies, the MoS of Housing and Urban Affairs clarified that “only” 14,031 trees are to be cut out of the existing 21,040. He also said 1,35,460 new saplings would be planted, resulting in an "urban forest", which would help generate oxygen and reduce the pollution levels in the city.

While certain colonies in Sarojini Nagar have only begun bulldozing old government quarters, Netaji Nagar is a little ahead.

A whole lane in Netaji Nagar in South Delhi has razed most of the buildings in few government housing complexes. Almost all of the old trees in those compounds – neem, banyan, deodar have been axed already.

(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

Trees have been felled in South Delhi’s Netaji Nagar as a part of redevelopment of central government accommodations.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)