43% of trees moved for Central Vista haveperished: Govt in LS

The Central Vista project is now in its final stages, but has faced significant delays due to the pandemic and legal uncertainty over environmental and land-use clearances.

As many as 43% of the trees transplanted for the Union government’s marquee ₹20,000 crore Central Vista project have perished, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.

The government said that of a total of 3,609 trees transplanted, 1,545 have perished post-transplantation. (PTI)

The government said that of a total of 3,609 trees transplanted, 1,545 have perished post-transplantation.

The Centre said that a total of 24,450 trees were planted as “compensatory” plantation – 24,450 at NTPC ECO Park in Badarpur and 1,730 in Ghitorni, Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs Tokhan Sahu said in response to a question by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mohua Moitra.

The government also informed Parliament that it spent ₹5.29 crore on these activities over the last three financial years.

The highest number of transplanted trees came from the Common Central Secretariat (CSS) buildings (now Kartavya Bhawans) 1, 2, and 3 sites – accounting for 1,734 trees – while CCS 6 and 7 sites saw 458 trees transplanted. The new Parliament Building site saw 402 trees transplanted, and the VP Enclave site saw 390.

NTPC ECO Park in Badarpur received the most transplanted trees. Other sites include Ghata Masjid and Krishna Menon Marg, which received 342 trees from the Executive Enclave (Seva Teerth).

The Central Vista project is now in its final stages, but has faced significant delays due to the pandemic and legal uncertainty over environmental and land-use clearances.

In December 2020, the Supreme Court ordered a halt to all construction and ancillary activities until its final verdict, after noting that the government had begun construction and tree‑shifting despite legal challenges. The project received clearance from the apex court in January 2021.