The Chief Conservator of Forests,

Department of Environment and Forests 

Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi

New Delhi 110002

Sir,

Subject: Appeal to restore the Green Belts around Defence Colony, New Delhi

We write to you as residents of Defence Colony, New Delhi 11024, which once the greenest colonies of South Delhi. Unfortunately today it stands vastly denuded, and if urgent effective steps are not taken, what is left of the vegetation, greenery and forest areas, will disappear in time to come.

When this colony was established, it was laid out with an abundance of parks, playfields, function grounds, forest areas and miscellaneous open spaces. However, with a passage of time, vested interests either encroached or obtained legal allotment by government for their activities. The net result is large chunks of lands have been taken over by shopping cum office complexes, private schools, religious institutions, dance academy’s and so on.

Further, since urbanization necessitated widening of roads, building bypasses, underpasses, clearings metro stations & paths and so on, the soft target has been the green belts that have been gradually diminished to just a few shrubs or trees. In addition land grabbers in the garb of schools, religious monuments etc have encroached on these belts.

Defence Colony was planned with green belts around it, i.e. the Ring Road side in the south, the Lajpat Nagar side in the south east, the railway track side on the north, and the Kotla Mubarakpur side in the west. Each side had a green belt or a buffer of shrubs.

Consequently this colony has lost out on two fronts;

1.    Open areas within the colony has been allotted for purposes other than as intended, i.e. parks and playgrounds,

2.    Green Belts and buffer zones have been encroached and destroyed.

We therefore Sir, request you to urgently take cognizance of this environmental degradation,  receding green belts and protect what remain of it. Our request is the Department of Environment and Forest restores these belts by extensive planting and fencing of these areas. We would suggest the following, as a standard operation procedure:

1.    Clearly mark out the remaining green belt areas

2.    Fence the demarcated areas

3.    Plant perennial shrubs and trees in the demarcated areas, notifying it as forest land.

Since monsoons are fast approaching, we look forward Sir, to your urgent attention in the matter. Since governance now is based on transparency and participation of communities, we would be grateful for including us in all aspects of this project.

Yours faithfully

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

Mobile :9810304580

19.04.2014