AAP condemns Delhi redevelopment plan involving axing trees

Amidst concerns about air pollution, Delhi's ruling AAP on Friday slammed the Central government for its decision of chopping down close to 17,000 full grown trees for its redevelopment plan.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj told the media here that the party will do everything within its power to stop the Central government from cutting trees to make "luxury buildings for people and ministers in the Central government".

"Some reports have suggested that close to 17,000 trees will be chopped off to accommodate the redevelopment of Central government housing in the South Delhi area.

"This will affect green cover across areas such as Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Safdarjung," he said.

Bhardwaj also said that the Sarojini Nagar area will be worst affected with 11,000 trees being chopped down. "In Kidwai Nagar, 1,123 trees will be chopped down, in Netaji Nagar, 2,294 and 1454 trees to be felled in Nauroji Nagar," he said.

Targeting Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for allegedly supporting the redevelopment plan, Bhardwaj said: "He is the same man who supported fee hike in the Delhi Metro. You can see how that decision went; 5 lakh people have stopped taking the metro."

He also accused the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) of "back-stabbing the already pollution sick people of Delhi by chopping down the trees in the cover of night".

"We are not against development. The Central government can arrange for their ministers to stay in other areas of Delhi like Dwarka and Rohini, but chopping off trees is wrong," Bhardwaj said.

Warning the Central government, Bhardwaj said AAP will start a movement with the people of Delhi and "will not let this redevelopment plan to work at any cost".

--IANS

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