Nagpur High Court Panel Uncovers Widespread Concrete Encasement of Trees
A three-member lawyers' committee, appointed by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, has submitted a report revealing that 528 trees across Nagpur are encircled by concrete, in clear violation of tree-protection norms designed to preserve urban green cover. The findings were presented before a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode during hearings in an ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning indiscriminate tree damage linked to development works in the city.
Background of the Legal Proceedings
The court first took suo motu cognisance of rampant tree cutting in Nagpur back in 2018. Separately, a PIL was filed by environmental activists Sharad Patil, Prachi Mahurkar, Yash Netke, and Preeti Patel, seeking directives to free all city trees from concrete encasement. At an earlier hearing, the bench ordered the formation of a committee under the divisional commissioner to ensure deconcretisation of trees. However, amicus advocate Radhika Bajaj later informed the court that although such a committee was constituted on February 30, 2025, mandatory monthly status reports and visible action were conspicuously absent.
Court's Stern Response and Fresh Inspection
Taking a stern view of the situation, the court constituted a fresh inspection panel comprising lawyers PS Gawai, RV Gehlot, and Pushkar Ghare. This panel was directed to survey cement roads and sites where trees were trapped in concrete and submit a detailed report within one month. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation was ordered to bear the costs of this inspection. The panel's report, submitted on Tuesday, listed extensive violations across major neighbourhoods and arterial roads throughout Nagpur.
Extensive Violations Across Nagpur's Localities
The inspection covered a wide range of areas, highlighting the pervasive nature of the issue. The affected neighbourhoods and roads include Bajaj Nagar, Shankar Nagar, Corporation Colony, Shivaji Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, NEERI Colony, Abhyankar Nagar, Bharat Nagar, Ravi Nagar, Civil Lines, Itwari, Nandanvan, Central Avenue, Shukrawari Talav, Gandhi Sagar, Vayusena Nagar, Friends Colony, Jafar Nagar, Zingabai Takli, Dabha, Katol Bypass Road, Ajni, Medical Square, Ayodhya Nagar, Ridge Road, Rameshwari, Khamla, Surendra Nagar, Sahakar Nagar, Ring Road, Hingna Road, and Narendra Nagar.
Court Directs Civic Body for Detailed Explanation
Expressing displeasure over what it termed as 'incorrect information' earlier furnished about concretised trees, the bench directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to file a detailed explanation by February 6. The court also asked for a comprehensive response after amicus advocate Radhika Bajaj flagged that no proper tree census had been conducted in the city since 2011. The bench orally reprimanded the civic body and warned that authorities must refrain from making unverified statements and instead focus on strict compliance with environmental norms to safeguard Nagpur's urban greenery.
