Vikaspuri moral cops make DDA wield axe to check sleaze in park where none of the 35 lamps work
Vikaspuri moral cops make DDA wield axe to check sleaze in park where none of the 35 lamps work
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Stumped: The chopped trees at the Vikaspuri DDA park |
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has hit upon a unique idea to stop public sex in its parks. It is cutting trees, cheered on by some Vikaspuri residents.
While the Delhi government is going green with vengeance, its civic department has cut over a hundred full-grown eucalyptus trees in West Delhi's Vikaspuri area, to prevent anti-social elements from gathering there.u00a0
The residents' welfare association (RWA) of Vikaspuri's F Block had requested the DDA to cut the trees in the park, complaining that it had become a safe haven for people looking for sex and other anti-social groups. "The shaded park had become a den of criminals and couples making it out in the public. The situation had become terrible with a sharp increase in petty crimes like chain snatching and looting. We requested the DDA to cut the trees so that these people wouldn't dare to gather in the open," said RK Anand, the president of the F Block RWA.
The park, adjacent to a popular multiplex, attracts youngsters who can be seen hanging around both during the day and evening. The park is also surrounded by six banks and several ATMs, which, the residents fear make the security situation of the locality even more vulnerable. "Recently, a man was robbed of Rs 20,000 while he was coming out of an ATM. The criminals could have easily hidden in the park and then made their move. If cutting a few trees will make the neighbourhood safe, there is no harm in doing so," said Mukesh Sharma, a resident of Vikaspuri and the MLA of Uttam Nagar.
Though the park wears a bare look, the residents are happy. BR Sehgal, vice-president of the RWA, said, "With the trees gone, we can now see across the park. Earlier, couples would hide behind every tree. It had become another Buddha Garden (a park at Rajendra Nagar in central Delhi that is infamous for being a public sex hotspot). We had complained to the police several times but they hardly took us seriously."
Ironically, the park has 35 lamps posts none of which work.
Some residents, however, were more remorseful and blamed the administration for the situation that led to the felling of the trees. "Had the DDA maintained the park and had the police deployed a guard to take care of its security, the trees could have been saved," said Sanjeev Mitra, a resident of the colony.
Agreed Anil Ahluwalia, secretary of the F Block RWA, "The DDA was not concerned about taking care of the park. Had the trees been trimmed regularly, they would have been standing today."
The police, meanwhile, refused to make any comment on the law and order situation of the area. SHO Anand Lakra of the Vikaspuri police station said he had taken charge only a week ago and could comment only after going through the details.
Delhi's green cover is protected by the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, which makes cutting of trees a punishable offence. A city court has recently directed a 67-year-old Delhiite, Surender Vasudeva, to plant 210 trees as punishment for chopping down 42 in 2003.
| Green rule |
| The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, aims at the conservation of trees in the Capital. Section 8 of the Act imposes restrictions on the felling and removal of trees. According to the statute, no person, whether in ownership or otherwise, shall prune a tree unless there exists a grave danger to life, property or traffic. To cut a tree, one needs to apply to a tree officer, telling him the reasons for felling. Moreover, every person, who is granted permission, shall be bound to plant such number and kind of trees in the area as directed by the tree officer. Section 24 of the Act prescribes punishment for offenders. A violator faces a maximum jail term of one year along with fine. |
