Tree helpline re-launched with new number

Somebody putting nails on a tree trunk in your colony? Or, you want to complain about government agencies not leaving the mandatory 6X6 area around the tree trunks?

Somebody putting nails on a tree trunk in your colony? Or, you want to complain about government agencies not leaving the mandatory 6X6 area around the tree trunks?

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Now, you can call the re-launched tree helpline and lodge a complaint right away.

The environment department of the Delhi government re-launched the Tree helpline with a new toll-free number on Wednesday on the occasion of the World Environment Day.

With about 20% forest cover, Delhi is possibly the greenest capitals across the country. But its tree helpline — started several years ago — has been playing truant, resulting in a lot of inconvenience as people do not know whom to contact.

In view of the increasing population — at 11,297 persons per sq km — Delhi is also the most densely populated state in the country — and a burden of 74 lakh vehicles emitting noxious fumes, protection of the green cover becomes extremely vital.

“We are also introducing the intelligent voice response system to record calls. If there is a complaint coming after office hours, it will be recorded on the answering machines. We would also have a caller ID to enable our staff to call back complainants,” said Sanjeev Kumar, secretary (environment and forests).

The helpline is also aimed at streamlining the response to the complaints received, which means, the officials would have to adhere to a time-bound compliance.