NGT asks Delhi Govt to consider geo-tagging trees

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Government to explore the feasibility of geo-tagging trees as part of an ongoing tree census in the Capital.

The tribunal was hearing a matter regarding illegal tree felling in the green belt near Naharpur village here.

A Bench — comprising NGT Chairperson, Justice Prakash Shrivastava; judicial members, Justices Sudhir Agarwal and Arun Kumar Tyagi; and judicial member Afroz Ahmad — noted the submission of the counsel for the Delhi Government that a tree census was being undertaken in the national capital in line with a Supreme Court order.

“The competent authority will explore the feasibility of geo-tagging of trees in that exercise, if not already included,” said the Bench.

Geo-tagging trees involves noting geographic data — such as latitude and longitude — of individual trees or groups of trees.

The Delhi Forest Department submitted before the National Green Tribunal that FIRs were being registered for the illegal felling of trees, and punitive action was being taken.

The department further submitted that, presently, there was no mechanism to detect if a violator was a repeat offender, but digitalisation of records would be done to identify repeat offenders in future, and initiate stricter action against them.

The department will digitise all records within three months.