PWD forms teams for prompt clearance of uprooted trees in Delhi
The Public Works Department has formed 11 quick response teams (QRTs) under the Delhi Disaster Management Authority to ensure prompt and effective response to emergencies arising due to fallen and uprooted trees.
In May, rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc across Delhi-NCR — the intense storms also killed over 10 people across Delhi-NCR, while around 200 trees were uprooted.
As per officials, the QRTs will have to coordinate with the department concerned in a swift and coordinated manner and remove these trees immediately.
'During the monsoon and heavy winds, such incidents take place. When trees get uprooted, they fall on electrical poles and wires, which also sometimes leads to mishaps… To avoid such incidents, these teams will be on alert and will take action during such emergencies,' said officials.
Each team will have three engineers who will work in three shifts from 6 am to 2 pm, 2 pm to 10 pm and 10 pm to 6 am.
The teams will be in place till September 15.
On why trees fall during storms, experts have said that apart from the weather, issues ranging from root damage, poor or irregular pruning, widespread concretisation around trunks, termite attacks, unscientific cabling, and a lack of updated data on tree health have all added to the problem.
For context, Delhi has 147 sq km of tree cover that falls outside forest areas. This is around 9.8% of Delhi's geographical area as per the India State of Forest Report (IFRS) 2023.
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