Greens approach NGT over cutting of over 700 trees for road widening

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Over 700 trees, including potential heritage trees on the Nagar Naka to Daulatabad T-Point areas, are likely to get axed for road widening works. Nature lovers from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has tried convincing the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stay the felling of trees.While the NGT has admitted the case, nature-lovers have requested the ‘green court' to give an urgent hearing in the matter considering that that felling of some trees have allegedly started. Rupesh Kalantri of advocacy group of ‘We, the Environmentalists' and a petitioner in the case, said the mandatory procedure prescribed under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975 and the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964 was not followed while removing the trees."Moreover, the Public Works Department (PWD) is hiding the actual number of trees to be cut. We sought the desired information through different channels including the RTI Act 2005, but there was no response. In a submission before the local civic body, the PWD has sought permission for cutting 712 trees.On the contrary, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation mentions as many as 748 trees within only municipal limits. Considering the further stretch of the road up to Daulatabad T-point, around 1,000 trees will fall," he said.The road in question, which leads to different tourist hotspots including Ellora Caves and Grishneshwar Temple, will be made four-laned. Conservationist Dr Kishor Pathak said many trees to be axed include heritage trees, being over 50-years-old."The stretch of road in question has many banyan and neem trees among other native trees. The PWD authorities should have planned the road widening without harming the trees," he said.The senior PWD officials concerned could not be reached for their comments.