Govt tells forest officials branches aren't exactly trees

The Delhi government has reminded its forest officials about the legal definition of a "tree," clarifying that branches cannot be counted as separate trees.

- Express News Service @ New Delhi

In a circular issued to forest conservators, the government cited the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994, noting that the clarification was necessary after repeated confrontations with environment activists during pruning drives, where allegations were made that pruning amounted to felling. The definition laid down in the law must be followed strictly to avoid confusion, the Conservator of Forests has said in a