Concrete around trees to cost Bikaner House Rs 18 lakh

NEW DELHI: Delhi forest department has imposed a fine of Rs 18.7 lakh on Bikaner House for its failure to comply with a National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) order to remove concrete flooring around tree trunks on its premises.

On April 23, 2013, the tribunal had directed that there should be no concrete flooring in one-meter radius around tree trunks to ensure their good health and growth.

The direction came on a plea filed by an advocate, Aditya Prasad, seeking de-concretisation of tree bases.

Prasad subsequently had also written to the Bikaner House last November on the issue saying it violated the NGT’s order. He had also forwarded his letter to various forest department officials.

In February this year, the petitioner subsequently sent a copy of his letter to NGT, which took up the issue on May 23 and ordered Delhi’s principal chief conservator of forest and wildlife to look into the matter and take appropriate actions within a month.

On the green bench’s order, south Delhi’s deputy conservator of forest and other officials inspected the Bikaner House premises on June 7 and found 187 trees being choked due to concrete flooring.

The latest notice sent by the deputy conservator of forest (South) to the Rajasthan government’s resident commissioner at Bikaner House said the department had ordered de-concretisation of tree bases and sought a compliance report by June 20.

“No compliance report in this regard has been received by this office till date. Therefore, a fine of Rs 10,000 per tree (base) concretised amounting to Rs 18.7 lakh for 187 tree bases is imposed upon you. The fine must be paid through https://epayment.delhigov.nic.in immediately,” said the notice.