Lokmat News Network
Nagpur, June 15
The world celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 and there is already a lot up uproar in the city, over the Ajni Inter Modal Station (IMS), wherein the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) via public notice had sought permission to cut 4,500 trees at Ajni Van, to which citizens are already up in arms.
The promoters and builder of Nirmal Nagri on Umred Road, Nirmal Ujwal Credit Cooperative Society, Nagpur has a land parcel on Umred Road adjoining Nirmal Nagri, which had a dense population of trees which included Babul, Subabul (Acacia arabica), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Gulmohar (Delonix regia) and Ber (Zizypus jujuba) trees . Many birds and animals were regular visitors at the urban forest. Parrot, Peacock, Baya, Koyal and varieties of small and big birds were nesting in the woods.
The residents of adjoining Nirmal Nagri used to go for morning and evening walks in the woods and enjoy the serene green surroundings.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMCs) Garden Department had served a notice to the promoters for illegally cutting the trees without permission under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Tress Act, 1975 (XLIV 1975) 8 (1).
When the team from the NMC Garden Dept visited the said premises they found that 73 nos. of Subabul trees, 35 nos. of Babul trees, 78 nos. of Ber tress and 1 No of Gulmohar trees was cut by the promoters without seeking nod from NMC. The team performed the Panchnama and listed the above trees which were fell in an unauthorised manner. Now the NMC will be filing the case against the promoters in the Court.
Denying NMC’s allegations the promoters of Nirmal Nagri Pramod Manmode said that, “There would be a residential development in the area and the layout has been sanctioned by the coroporation. We have cut trees which had grown on their own and were not planted by anyone. We will have to clean the land in order to do construction. We do not require permission to cut Babul trees and the trees for which permission is needed, we have already submitted a letter to NMC and awaiting permission.”
The city of Nagpur is already loosing its green cover and now ranks on 28th position (earlier raking was No.2) and scored just 130 points out of 1,500 in a contest held by Maharashtra government’s environment and climate change department.
Box
Tress cut by the promoters
Tree Name Quantity Apprxo Tree Height
Babul 35 30 to 35 ft
Subabul 73 25 to 30 ft
Gulmohar 01 35 to 40 ft
Ber 78 22 to 28 ft
Total 187