Delhi government announces policy to remove Kikar tree

The Delhi government has been working on a policy to remove the Kikar plantation from the Capital, said deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday on the sidelines of an event. Kikar is a colonial tree which destroys native trees and local biodiversity but also sucks up groundwater fast.

“We are working on a policy for a year now to free Delhi of Kikar trees. This is an important scheme, which is intended not only to increase the green cover but also save the depleting groundwater table for a better eco-system,” Sisodia said.

The deputy CM had announced the launch of the policy while he was inaugurating ‘City Forest’, a green space in Geeta Colony’s Taj Enclave area in east Delhi.

“While we see green cover in Delhi, most of the forests have 80-90 per cent Kikar plantation, which has not only been destroying the growth of native trees but also fast consuming groundwater,” said Sisodia. “While Kikar has its own benefits, its plantation in vast numbers can destroy the natural biodiversity,” he added.

The Delhi environment minister Imran Hussain, said that the tree plantation drives in the city have led to an increase in the forest cover by 0.2 per cent.

“0.2 per cent …read more