The Times of India 24.12.2014
NMC gets 134 objections to tree felling
NASHIK:
The civic body has received objections from 134 citizens towards
felling of trees in the city limits for road widening work ahead of next
year’s Kumbh Mela.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had
invited objections and suggestions from the citizens for cutting trees
through a committee formed and headed by the chief conservator of
forests (CCF) following a Bombay high court order.
As many as
2,400 trees are likely to face the axe because of road widening across
the city. Based on a public interest litigation on illegal hacking of
trees filed by environment activists, the court had asked the civic body
to seek its permission to cut even a single tree in the city limits.
The NMC had sought permission to cut 2,400 trees for Kumbh-related
works. The HC had asked the chief conservator of forests (territorial)
Nashik Circle to chair a committee and conduct a survey of the trees, as
the NMC did not have a proper tree committee.
On November 25,
the court rejected the report prepared by the chief conservator of
forests. It said two experts will have to be paid Rs 25,000 each by the
NMC and all other expenses for the survey of the trees.
The
court said all this have to be done by January 27 and cutting of trees
in areas under the NMC’s jurisdiction would be forbidden.
“The
NMC had sought objections and suggestions from the citizens regarding
hacking of trees through the media. The objections and suggestions were
submitted to the chief conservator of forests. We have received 134 of
those and the hearing will take place on December 27 and 28 at the civic
body in the presence of the committee formed by the chief conservator
of forests,” an NMC official said.
