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The move comes amid concerns that the invasive species is hampering construction and infrastructure projects at several places in the national capital.
Officials said Kikar was found obstructing road widening, drainage works and other development activities. “The land reserved for Delhi Sports University in Mundka is one such property. Kikar has taken over a large portion of the land.”
“Actually, around 2,000 trees occupy the land. Permission to cut them will have to be taken from a tree officer. The government is preparing an SOP (standard operating procedure) for such cases,” said an official.
According to government sources, the proposed SOP will give clear guidelines for identification, removal and disposal of kikar trees while ensuring minimum impact on the environment.
The SOP is also expected to define the responsibilities of various departments and streamline the permissions required for removal.
The rapidly spreading kikar is considered an invasive species in many areas. Officials said its removal would help facilitate development work while allowing officials to focus on protecting native tree species.
Earlier this year, the Delhi government had issued guidelines for tree officers to enforce certain sections of the Delhi Tree Preservation Act (DPTA), 1994, officials said.
Section 8 of the DPTA states that no tree shall be cut, removed or disposed of without the previous permission of the Tree Officer.
However, it provides exceptions for emergency cases where a tree poses an immediate threat to life, property or traffic. In such situations, he said, RWAs, land-owning agencies, individuals or responsible agencies can act without prior approval, provided they report the action to the tree officer within 24 hours.
(edited by : Sarabasti Biswas,