जब चंद सांसों के लिए तड़प रहा था इंसान

इन्ही जंगलो ने बचायी रखी करोड़ो के प्राण !

चंद सिक्को और सत्ता के लिए न बेच डालो अपना ईमान

जंगल को जंगल ही रहने दो , न बना डालो इसे रेगिस्तान !!

In a direct contravention to our Hon’ble Supreme Court order no 901 dated 13/08/1989 banning any civil construction within a forest land, DDA / CEC/ Forest Department & DFI officials held a meeting at Jahanpanah City Forest last week for a feasibility study of constructing a cycle track through the forest from Tughlakabad Biodiversity park to Chirag Delhi . This move will entail not only cutting down countless number of matured trees of various species but also destroy the habitats of the various species of animals living deep inside the forest. Sadly, this attempt is being made in breach of and circumventing the SC order. 

Are you aware of encroachments and the dubious  quality of governance of  Jahanpanah City Forest even at the present time?

Any visitor can observe numerous encroachments, instances of theft of plants and materials including permitted structures such as benches and canopies besides unchecked vandalism and use by unauthorized vehicles. Additionally, we can easily observe daily, a huge leakage of water meant for watering plants, poor quality of ever-changing security staff and untrained garden and maintenance staff, who are recruited randomly by contractors. Periodic complaints by the public to DDA and other agencies have not resulted in any major improvement.

 

Do we really need another road/ concrete track inside the forest when there is already an existing one present? 

The Honourable SC has permitted the present road presumably only for the absolutely essential access of maintenance staff and walkers and in its wisdom and foresight restrained any development in this ecologically sensitive area.  If any new construction is permitted under the misleading cover as a cycle track, it will soon turn into a nightmare when this very track will be used as a shortcut between Tughlakabad and Chirag Delhi by both cyclists and two wheelers on their way to work any time of the day and night. Crime rate inside the forest is likely to go up as there will hardly be any policing inside the forest and the guards are at best only for our mental satisfaction only and not effective at all. 

Not only your peaceful morning and evening walks will be disturbed due to pollution and noise, the forest animals and birds will also suffer the most. We are  sure you will not like to  be a party to their sufferings . 

Once the road opens, you will find all types of small vehicles passing through the forest anytime of the day including on the current 6.4 km metalled road, and you will not be able to do anything about it. 

 

As it is, despite the order that no motorised vehicles are allowed inside, we do see quite a few of them driving through on the metalled road inside the forest during our walks, and on being challenged they turn aggressive. 

The cycle track will be the first step towards commercialisation of JCF, soon we will see all sorts of tourism gimmicks and kiosks selling food items opening up with the blessings of the officials. 

If we all do not come together to stop this move by DDA, we may as well say GOODBYE to our beloved JCF and all the good things associated with the only ‘GREEN LUNGS’ next to our homes we have been enjoying all these years.

We all know the amount of big money  that is  involved in such projects besides gaining political mileage ,and it is also likely that we shall have a tough fight ahead in the coming days as the stakeholders will not be easily dissuaded from carrying this project ahead . 

You are therefore requested to kindly participate in this signature campaign to stop this meaningless approach by the various govt stakeholders of JCF from the wanton destruction and commercialisation of the only GREEN LUNGS next door.

WE DO NOT WANT THE PROPOSED  CYCLE TRACK CONNECTING  TUGHLAKABAD BIO DIVERSITY PARK  TO CHIRAG DELHI RUNNING THROUGH OUR JAHAPANAH CITY FOREST !! PLEASE STOP THIS PROJECT IMMEDIATELY !!!!!