School children write to PM...Save Delhi

A redevelopment project at Pragati Maidan in Delhi will entail the axing of 1,713 trees which is a cause of worry for environmentalists and school children who have sent around 300 postcards to the Prime Minister urging him to take action to stop the felling of trees. The drive has been initiated by a citizen group of environmentalists, tree lovers and activists who are also planning to propel an online petition as well as move court against the decision to cut these trees for the redevelopment of the ITPO complex at Pragati Maidan. The postcards that carry messages like 'Please don't cut trees in Pragati Maidan' and 'Save trees, Save Delhi', were dispatched to the Prime Minister's residence on Sunday. The activists have suggested alternative measures to save the trees like integrating them into the project architecture so that they need not be cut. Preeti Bharadwaj, social worker and environmentalist who is spearheading the postcard campaign stressed that the trees are large, adult and around 50-60 years old. Replacing them with small saplings doesn’t make sense as pollution has reached hazardous levels in Delhi. According to an EIA report, the PM2.5 levels in the area are between 42 to 126 micrograms per cubic metre while the prescribed limit of Central Pollution Control Board is 60 micrograms per cubic metre. Activists are afraid that felling the trees will further worsen the air quality levels.