NEWS

Congress MLA Prahlad Singh Sawhney, who represents Chandni Chowk seat, has complained to chief secretary D.M. Spolia about felling of “Vilayati Kikar (known as Babool)” in the Kamla Nehru Ridge that falls in Delhi University’s North campus area. In his letter, Mr Sawhney said that several residents of his constituency had complained that the greenery of the Ridge was being destroyed. The Congress MLA said that felling of trees was prohibited under the provisions of the Forest Act. However, Delhi Development Authority officials said that they were in the process of trimming the branches of Vilayati Kikar (Prosopis Juliflora) to allow sunlight reach the forest so that the newly-planted Aravali species can grow better. The DDA and the forest department, under the supervision of Delhi University professor C.R. Babu, have started planting native Aravali species in the Ridge. The authorities have started pruning canopies of Vilayati Kikar as it is a highly invasive alien species from Mexico that has encroached upon the Ridge and has resulted in the elimination of about 450 native species.

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