The Times of India            21.11.2013

City to lose 154 big trees

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has approved the cutting of 154 big trees. The tree authority approved the proposal recently. Permission had been granted to cut down 375 big trees on January 31 and April 30, taking the total to 529 trees cut in this calendar year. The destruction of city's greenery is set to continue, with one more proposal seeking permission to cut 105 trees on the agenda at the next meeting.

Not surprisingly, most number of trees will be chopped in West Nagpur, which is the greenest area of the city. The tree authority headed by municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane approved 14 of total 16 proposals seeking permissions to cut down 154 big trees at its on November 8.

The state public works department's integrated project unit will cut down 82 big trees, including 63 to construct the building of hotel management and catering technology college in the premises of government polytechnic at Sadar, and 19 trees to construct a VIP Rest House at Mata Kacheri in Vasant Nagar.

The trees to be brought down include mango, almond, neem, ashoka, subabul, cassia, peepal etc. The department will have to first ensure plantation of 410 plants before cutting down the big trees.

The Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, also known as Mayo hospital, will cut down 30 big trees in its premises, including mango, peepal, neem, babul, wad, rain tree etc. The hospital proposes to construct a 250-bedded hospital, boys hostel etc on the land presently occupied by these trees.

The South-East Central Railway too proposes to chop down 19 big trees for construction of project related to sewage treatment at its workshop at Motibagh near Kadbi Chowk.

Nine big trees, including six teak trees, will be cut down by a private firm to construct a township on Umrer Road. Corporator and member of tree authority Sunil Agrawal has recommended the proposal after inspecting the spot.

According to details in the agenda, the tree authority kept two proposals pending, including the proposal to cut down 105 big trees at Juni Barud Factory, Teka Naka. According to the proposal, private developer Dwarka Developers has proposed a group housing scheme on the land comprising such large number of trees including neem, subabul, chichbhilai, katori etc.

A senior NMC official told TOI the proposal was kept pending for inspection of the trees. "105 trees is a huge number so a site inspection is required. The applicant will have to ensure plantation of 1,050 plants, 10 saplings for each big tree, to get permission. Applicant will also have to submit security deposit of Rs11.02 lakh," he said.