10 October 2020.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Cabinet at a meeting approved the ‘Tree Transplantation Policy’ for the preservation of trees in the Capital. They also gave nod for the installation of the second smog tower in the world at Connaught Place within ten months.A minimum of 80% of trees affected by a development or construction project will be transplanted .
Highlights:
- The policy is first of its kind in the country.
- The policy does not apply if 10 or less trees are felled for the development project.
- Under the policy, the invasive species are excluded from the list of species that will be transplanted.
- In order to address the challenge of survival rate of transplanted tree National level Agencies are to be appointed as a part of an expert panel.
- Earlier for every tree cut compensatory plantation of 10 tree saplings was done.
- This however takes many years to replace the felled trees.
- Thus, Tree Transplantation Policy has been introduced.
- The cost of transplanting a tree is approximately between 50000 and 1 lakh rupees.
The Plan:
- The State Government of Delhi is to set up a tree transplantation cell.
- In order to provide expertise, Agencies that have experience in tree transplantation have been identified.
- A panel has been formed from the identified agencies.
- In addition, the panel will also have members from forest department and civil societies.
- Panel will continuously monitor and Audit the transplanted trees.
- Delhi tree authority is to be established. This will act as an Apex body to oversee the entire process.
Challenges in tree transplantation
- Planting a tree at the right depth is one of the most common problems in tree transplantation.
- The planting hole should be two to three times wider than the roots are root ball.
- Transplantation cannot be carried out in all seasons.
- Spring is the best season to transplant trees.
- The major problem is that trees tend to lose 80 to 95 percentage of their root system during transplantation.
- The lasting of such trees depends on the care given post transplantation.