NOIDA: The forest department of Gautam Budh Nagar has made it clear that it will not allow cutting of even mature eucalyptus trees, despite these being responsible for depletion of groundwater and soil nutrients.District forest officer of Gautam Budh Nagar, AK Srivastava, told TOI on Tuesday that eucalyptus would continue to be treated as part of green belt wherever they are in the city.“Noida Authority sought our permission to cut some 4,000 eucalyptus trees in all. Of these, 2,994 trees have already been cut, including 62 that are of non-eucalyptus variety. The permission for the felling of the remaining 1,000 trees has been revoked. An audit report will be submitted to the National Green Tribunal ahead of November 14, which is the next date of hearing in the tree-felling case,” he said.The forest department, however, took cognizance of the thousands of eucalyptus trees that continue to remain in Noida, planted between 15 and 20 years ago. A forest area in Sector 92 has thousands of eucalyptus trees which could be over 20 years old. Eucalyptus usually mature in 15 years.“We cut the trees in Sector 91 because it was marked for the eco-park plan. Of 110 acres of forest cover in the region, only 75 acres are under the eco-park plan. If a decision is taken at state level to change the vegetation of the city, we will then take it up as a plan. We have conducted an audit for the number of trees cut in Sector 91 and so far, 2,994 trees have been cut,” the DFO said.“While removal of eucalyptus could eventually be necessary for Noida, the forest department should never attempt it in one go. A few trees at a time should be removed with adequate afforestation done progressively. When trees are cut at a go, we affect the habitats of so many animals dependent on these trees,” said Vikrant Tongad, a petitioner in the NGT.

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