Trees at AIIMS wounded by signage, choked with concrete

NEW DELHI: Forest department officials have found several trees inside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences campus choking on concrete or with signage nailed onto their trunks.

Volunteers of Delhi Green Circle, who had earlier conducted a survey inside the campus, said they found at least 50 trees that were in pitiable condition due to concretization.

Members of Delhi Green Circle wrote to forest department head GN Sinha on Monday complaining about the plight of the trees. "The damage by the topmost institute of medical sciences of the country in this regard makes the matter worse; we are utterly shocked that the guardians of health of the nation should themselves become abusers of trees and the environment," read the letter written by Delhi Green Circle founder, Suhas Borker.

They also wrote to the director, AIIMS, Dr Ramesh C Deka, requesting him to immediately address the issue or take strict administrative action against those responsible. "We have urged them to take urgent remedial action to save the trees," he said.

One can spot several such trees while walking inside the AIIMS campus. There is a breathing area of hardly 2 to 3 feet around the trees. Many have been choked right up to the trunk. "The idea is to see how institutions are taking care of trees. If nothing, they should at least not choke or nail them. We plan to conduct more such surveys," added Borker.

"We would like you to immediately initiate very stern action in this matter and book those responsible for choking through concretization, mutilation through metal guards and nailing signage on these trees under Section 24 (1) of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. These violations are undoubtedly willful acts to damage the trees and call for deterrent punishment. We need to send a strong message of zero tolerance to all violators," the letter read.

Forest officers also inspected the trees on receiving the letter and found many violations. "Our officers have inspected the place. We have to lodge a case against AIIMS authorities for violating both the high court and the green tribunal orders on tree preservation. But we will first give them an opportunity to explain why these lapses happened and about how they will be rectified," a senior forest officer said.