NEW DELHI, July 4, 2025—Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Committee President Shri Devendra Yadav today expressed deep concern over the recklessing cutting of trees in the Capital, making mockery of the Rekha Gupta-led BJP Government’s Plantation Drive 2025 and her endorsement of ‘one tree in mother’s name campaign 2-0”. .He described the wild tree cutting as a direct proof of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy of “destruction in the name of development”.
Slamming BJP’s duplicity, Shri Devender Yadav said that on the one hand trees of the capital are being cut without any concern for the environment and the sharp rise in air pollution and on the other hand Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is doing promotional gimmick like ‘one tree in mother’s name campaign 2.0’ and ‘tree plantation campaign 2025’.
Shri Devender Yadav had earlier questioned the permission given to cut 856 trees under the General Pool Housing Project in Kasturba Nagar Phase-2, describing it as an assault on both environment and social justice. He warned that this was just the beginning as thousands of trees would be sacrificed in the coming days while Delhi has already earned the dubious reputation of one of the most polluted capitals in the world. He said that BJP’s intention is clear: “Demolish slums, cut trees and high rise buildings” for the comfort of the rich and the powerful.
Shri Devender Yadav, while sharing some new information, repeated the charge and said that:
– 887 trees will be removed from an area spread over 115.88 hectares for redevelopment of the New Delhi railway station,
– 476 trees will be removed from an area of 5.037 hectares for the building of Common Central Secretariat on Maulana Azad Road;
– Permission to cut 501 trees in a 6.33 hectare area in Netaji Nagar (Package-5) has been given by the Lt. Governor.
Shri Devender Yadav said that while skyscrapers are being built near the Prime Minister’s residence, the slums are being bulldozed to drive out the poor from Delhi, who play an enviable role in the development of Delhi. He asked that “On the one hand there is an open exemption to the indiscriminate removal of trees, and on the other hand, the common citizens are constantly facing various restrictions in the name of pollution control.” He said that between 2019 and 2021 in Delhi, 5 trees were cut every hour during the tenure of the Kejriwal Government. He said that the removal of so many trees was aserious threat to the depleting green cover in the Capital, which will only add to the prevailing serious air pollution.
Reiterating his old demand, Shri Devender Yadav said that Tree Sensus (enumeration of trees) should be made mandatory, public hearing, environmental impact assessment and re-planting audit should be made mandatory through an independent agency. He said that no tree should be cut until these arrangements are made. He said that according to the directions of the Supreme Court, the Government of India should provide financial funds for Tree Census and the survey should be under the supervision of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
Shri Devender Yadav reiterated that “Delhi’s soul lives in slums and its breath comes from trees. If both are destroyed, Delhi will remain only as a cement and concrete structure.” He reminded the Supreme Court’s comment that “Trees are like human beings.” He warned the BJP government that if it did not withdraw from anti-environmental policies, the Congress would start a mass protest movement on the streets for the protection of environment.
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