Nashik civic body plans to cut 584 trees for ring road widening ahead of Kumbh Mela

Nashik: The civic body has decided to fell 584 trees of different species to widen some stretches of the existing ring road in Nashik city ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) issued a public notice for the proposed tree cutting on two roads and invited suggestions and objections from people within the next seven days, up to April 6. A hearing is to be conducted on the objections and suggestions received before the trees are cut for road widening.According to the municipal corporation's public notice, 387 trees along the stretch from Nilgiri Bag to the RTO office on Peth Road via Rasbihari School and Raj Sweet on Meri Road are proposed to be cut. Additionally, 197 trees along the road from Nandur Naka to Hotel Jatra are to be removed for widening works ahead of the Kumbh Mela.The road from the junction near Bali Mandir on Mumbai-Agra National Highway to the RTO office on Peth Road via Rasbihari English Medium School and Raj Sweets on Meri Road is to be concreted at a cost of Rs 130 crore. Another road from Nandur Naka to Hotel Jatra is also to be developed. NMC's public works department has already completed the tender process and has given work orders to the contractors concerned for development of the proposed roads."We have already invited suggestions and objections from the people through the public notice, and a proper hearing is to be held on the objections, as per the norms. Compensatory plantation will be undertaken based on the total age of the trees that are to be cut."The officials said the number of saplings to be planted will depend on the estimated age of the trees being felled. If the average age of affected trees is around 15 years, the corporation would be required to plant saplings accordingly, said the NMC officials.Meanwhile, activists opposed the civic body's move to cut the trees and appealed to residents to submit objections to the proposal to cut 584 trees. "It is mandatory to compensate in place of the trees cut, but the civic body has not done any sapling planting to compensate for the trees cut for the road development and other projects for Kumbh Mela," said Pravin Shilawat, a social activist.