Remove wires twined around trees in Delhi: NGT asks discoms

New Delhi, May 1: The National Green Tribunal has taken strong objection to high tension cables encircling around trees and directed power distribution companies in the national capital to remove these wires expeditiously.

"Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited shall continue to remain obliged to remove wires twined around the trees or any part of it within their licensed areas falling in NCT Delhi and such work shall be completed within next 20 weeks," a bench headed by Justice U D Salvi said.

The green panel also directed these companies to cooperate with civic authorities concerned in trimming the branches of trees which touch the overhead wires.

On March 23, the tribunal had slammed discoms for putting high tension cables on trees, with the green panel warning of action against their top bosses if the wires were not removed. It had also directed all municipal corporations and departments concerned to file their compliance reports regarding deconcretisation of trees within two weeks.

The NGT had last year issued notices to Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, BSES Yamuna Power Ltd and North Delhi Power Ltd for choking trees by putting wires around them.

In 2013, it had directed public authorities, including municipal bodies and Delhi Development Authority to ensure that sign boards, advertisements, wires and other objects that deface trees as well as concrete around them in the national capital are removed forthwith.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by advocate Aditya N Prasad alleging that concretisation of trees in various parts of Delhi was leading to weakening of the roots and eventually their death.

PTI