23 pc shortfall in planting trees in Delhi during 2014-17: CAG

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The Forest Department and other agencies in Delhi, responsible for providing green cover in the national capital, has planted 28.12 lakh trees during 2014-17 against their target of 36.57 lakh, a shortfall of 23 per cent, the CAG said in its report.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in the Delhi Assembly today, also highlighted that the reported tree plantation during 2014-17 "could not lead to commensurate increase in area under tree and forest cover putting a question mark on the efficacy and performance of Delhi government's tree plantation programme".

The city government did not have its own Delhi Forest Policy, road map or perspective plan indicating strategy to improve forest cover, it said, adding the Greening Delhi Action Plan has "not been prepared after 2007-08.

"Tree Authority constituted under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 met only once during 2014-17 against mandated 12 meetings. In violation of permit conditions, lops and tops arising out of pruning/felling of trees were not supplied free of cost to the public crematoria," the report said.