Forest Department’s plans to protect trees comprises forest stations and control rooms
Nursery Today Desk
New Delhi. Abiding by the orders of Delhi High Court, Forest Department prepares a draft SOP on DPTA (Delhi Preservation of Trees Act) to prevent offences under the Act, which will be notified soon by Delhi Government. Some features of the draft includes establishment of forest station with lock-up facilities, 24*7 control rooms at par with police control room, prosecution cell and creation of dedicated website and mobile application.
High Court felt the need for a new SOP after observing the absence of proper directions and guidelines regarding tree officer dealing with complaints or any act of conduct relating to the damage of trees or violation of any other provision of the act.
Solving the issues, the new SOP guides the tree officers to conclude any inquiry within two months from the date of receipt of the complaint. It includes the directions for tree officers in conducting hearings, investigations and timely prosecution for violations under the act.
Adding to the information, a senior forest official mentions the availability of some facilities in the new SOP to help the department in controlling the violations under the act.
According to the SOP, the department of forest and wildlife will have a control room at headquarter and divisional levels, an interface with control rooms of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and Centralized Accident and Trauma Services for responding different situations.
Quick Response Teams and adequate manpower will be deployed at headquarters and every forest divisions for efficient response. Also, to maintain transparency and increase efficiency, a dedicated website will be created to cover the entire life cycle of a complaint made under the act.
Bhavreen Kandhari, a well-known tree activist, appreciated the step and said- “Most of the complaints filed with the tree helpline are not even acknowledged for many days. This negligence increases more offences under the DPTA Act. But, there comes a new hope with the SOP to save the city’s ecology”.
