Environmental Crisis Looms as Over 700 Trees Slated for Felling in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Road Project
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is facing a significant environmental controversy as more than 700 trees, including potential heritage specimens, are marked for removal to facilitate road widening between Nagar Naka and Daulatabad T-Point. Nature enthusiasts and environmental advocates have urgently approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking an immediate stay on the tree-cutting operations.
Legal Battle Intensifies as Activists Challenge Procedural Violations
The NGT has officially admitted the case filed by concerned citizens, who are pressing for an expedited hearing due to reports that tree felling has already commenced in some areas. Rupesh Kalantri, representing the advocacy group 'We, the Environmentalists' and serving as a petitioner in the case, has raised serious allegations regarding procedural lapses.
"The mandatory protocols outlined in the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, and the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964, have been completely disregarded during this tree removal process," Kalantri stated emphatically.
Discrepancies in Tree Counts and Transparency Concerns
Activists have accused the Public Works Department (PWD) of deliberately obscuring the actual number of trees destined for removal. Despite multiple attempts to obtain accurate information through various channels, including formal requests under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, authorities have remained unresponsive.
"The PWD has formally requested permission from the local civic body to cut 712 trees. However, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation's own records indicate the presence of 748 trees within municipal boundaries alone. When considering the extended road stretch up to Daulatabad T-point, the total number of affected trees could approach 1,000," Kalantri revealed, highlighting significant discrepancies in official figures.
Heritage Trees and Ecological Impact at Stake
The road undergoing expansion serves as a crucial artery connecting prominent tourist destinations, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ellora Caves and the revered Grishneshwar Temple. The planned four-laning project threatens numerous mature trees, some qualifying as heritage trees due to their age exceeding fifty years.
Conservation expert Dr. Kishor Pathak expressed deep concern about the ecological loss, noting, "The affected road corridor is lined with magnificent banyan and neem trees, among other indigenous species. These trees represent decades of growth and ecological value. The PWD authorities should have devised an alternative road widening strategy that minimized harm to these vital green assets."
Despite repeated attempts to contact senior PWD officials for their perspective on the allegations and the project's environmental mitigation measures, no responses were forthcoming at the time of reporting. The situation remains tense as environmentalists await the NGT's decision on their plea for intervention.
