Standard Operating Procedure

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Delhi Gazette REGD. No. D. L.-33002/99 SG-DL-E-22052025-263286 EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 155] DELHI, MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025/VAISAKHA 29, 1947 [N. C. T. D. No. 58 PART IV GOVERNMENT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS & WILDLIFE NOTIFICATION Delhi, the 2nd May, 2025 F.8(204)/FOREST/HQ/PLG.-II/DPTA/2022-23/1424.—In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 33 of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, in public interest, hereby, notifies "Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for tending and pruning of trees under Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994" STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR TENDING AND PRUNING OF TREES UNDER DELHI PRESERVATION OF TREES ACT, 1994. Delhi is one of the greenest capital cities in the world with a large area under avenue plantation, ridge forest, biodiversity parks, floodplain plantation, huge parks in residential areas across the city, city forest, etc. This green cover has consistently increased due to sincere and continued efforts of greening agencies of central & state governments including community participation. In the development path of Delhi, green area development has always been a priority and sincere efforts have been made in this regard resulting in expansion of green spaces in the city. With this growth in green spaces, there is a continuous and sustained need to have an efficient and foolproof system for scientific management of trees particularly in public spaces like roads, parks, residential/ commercial/ institutional areas, heritage buildings etc which are regularly frequented/ inhabited by a large number of people. The pruning of trees is a horticultural and silvicultural practice, involving cutting of or removing living or dead parts or branches of a tree to improve vigour of growth of desired parts, improve shape of tree and/or for reducing risk from falling of dead / broken branches, thus to promote scientific management of trees by following the best silvicultural practices without damaging the tree. Tending and pruning of trees is not only important for its growth, shape, size but it is also imperative for minimising threat and danger to the public due to its uncontrolled and unregulated spread. At the same time, this essential activity enhances the aesthetics of the area and safety & security of life and property. Tending and pruning of trees is also essential due to following reasons- (a) Removal of undesirable and dangerous branches along the road, railway line, metro, RRTS, footpath, cycle track, traffic lights, signages, right of way etc obscuring line of sight of motorists, driver, cyclists, pedestrians etc to avoid fatal accidents. (b) Regular pruning of trees to maintain acceptable clearance from overhead electric wires/ cables to avoid electrical fire and other hazards. (c) Tending and pruning of trees is essential to save buildings, houses, properties etc from damage which can be caused by dead, hanging and detached twigs / branches of trees. (d) Removing the branches of trees blocking street lights/high mast light which is necessary to maintain illumination around it and also an essential component for safety and security of people. (e) In case of invasion of pests and diseases, removal of dead or insect-carrying twigs and branches becomes essential in order to eliminate proliferation of pests and diseases; (f) Removal of weak branches and undesirable shoots originating from the tree base allow growth of new branches and fruits on healthy parts of the tree which act as reserve foods for birds, animals; (g) Tending and pruning allow penetration of more sunlight, a source of vitamin D. Sunlight is also essential for the growth of small shrubs and grasses beneath a tree to promote a healthy ecosystem and add to the biodiversity. (h) Tending and pruning becomes inevitable when a tree becomes weak and can't withstand strong wind conditions. Pruning of overcrowded branches reduces the weight of the tree. This is essential particularly when the root anchorage of the tree is not firm or when the root system is disturbed or weakened due to any reason. In view of absolute necessity for safety and security of the people, keeping in mind the provision, intent and purpose of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi considers it expedient to issue directions by the powers vested in it under Section 33 of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 for tending and pruning of trees in specific cases. The following directions shall be called as “Standard Operating Procedure for dealing with Tending and Pruning of Tree(s) under section 33 of the 'Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994', 2025"- 1. If any Individual/ civic agency/ government agency/ RWA/ company/ organisation etc finds that twigs/branches/shoots/roots of any tree(s), which are having girth equal to or more than 15.7 cm, are required to be pruned in circumstances enumerated above, then applicant can apply online for the pruning of same on e-Forest portal (https://www.dpta.eforest.delhi.gov.in) along with their geo-referenced photographs(for each tree separately) to the concerned Tree Officer for the permission. Permission or otherwise will be communicated by tree officer to the applicant within 7 working days from the date of receipt of complete application after following due process. 2. No permission will be required from the Tree Officer, for general tending and light pruning where branches to be pruned are having girth less than 15.7cm. Photographs of such pruning will be uploaded on the e-forest portal. 3. If the tree(s) for which pruning is required is standing in public spaces like road, footpath, street, park etc of MCD/NDMC/ DDA/ PWD/ CPWD/ASI/Delhi Cantt etc or in building/premise of any government agency and is posing danger to life, property or traffic, then such agencies can proceed for tending/light pruning themselves, irrespective of the girth, in supervision of their senior horticulture officer and inform to the Tree Officer with geo-referenced before and after photographs/ video of such tree(s) in harmony with provisions of Section 8 of the DPTΑ 1994. General Instructions: i. Tending and Pruning of Trees has to be done by the land owner/ land-owning agency as per guideline formulated by the State Government. ii. NOC from the land owner(s), if applicant is not the land owner. iii. The Department of Forests & Wildlife, GNCTD does not get the trees tended or pruned directly but only accords the tree pruning permission to the land - owner / land-owning agency after due inspection. iv. The Tree Officer will accept application(s) only through e-forest portal of the Department of Forests & Wildlife, GNCTD by the land owner / land owning agency and application submitted in any other form will not be accepted. v. Any kind of pruning of the tree(s) must be carried out in a scientific manner so that it does not damage the tree(s). Pruning must be done by the land-owning agency in the expert supervision of a Horticulturist. These directions shall supersede all earlier guidelines / directions issued in this regard. By Order and in the Name of the Lt. Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi A.K. SINGH, Principal Secretary (Environment & Forests) ANNEXURE-I A. JURISDICTION OF TREE OFFICERS: As on date there are four (4) Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCFs), who are designated as Tree Officers, to facilitate processing of online applications on e-Forest portal for tree pruning and to accord permissions for the same, after due inspections, as per merit of the case. As per this office Notification dated 20.01.2021, their respective jurisdictions in Delhi are shown in table below. +-----------------------------------------+--------------------------+---------------------+ | Office of Tree Officers / DCFs | Office Address | Name of Revenue | | | | Districts | +=========================================+==========================+=====================+ | Deputy Conservator of Forests, Central | Kamala Nehru Ridge, | North - East | | Forest Division | Delhi-110007. | East | | Email - | | Shahdara | | dcfcentral-gnctd@delhi.gov.in | | Central | +-----------------------------------------+--------------------------+---------------------+ | Deputy Conservator of Forests, | Campus of MGICCC, Alipur,| North | | North Forest Division | Bakoli, Delhi-110036. | North - West | | Email - dcfnorth.gnctd@delhi.gov.in | | West | +-----------------------------------------+--------------------------+---------------------+ | Deputy Conservator of Forests, | Mandir Lane, Birla Mandir,| South - West | | West Forest Division | Delhi-110060. | | | Email - dcfwest.gnctd@gov.in | | New Delhi | +-----------------------------------------+--------------------------+---------------------+ | Deputy Conservator of Forests, | Shooting Range, | South | | South Forest Division | Tughlakabad, | | | Email - dcfsouth.delhi@gov.in | New Delhi-110044. | South - East | +-----------------------------------------+--------------------------+---------------------+ B. DISPOSAL OF TIMBER, LOPS & TOPS:- All lops & tops are required to be sent to nearest crematorium by the institutions / agencies / govt. departments.