Trees near Bapu Kuti safe; panel to look at alternatives

Nagpur: Stung by protests from green activists and people, the state government on Wednesday stayed felling of over 130 trees between Wardha-Sevagram road near Bapu Kuti and has asked a committee of experts and officials to find a way out to see how they can be saved and traffic can also move smoothly.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of PWD minister Ashok Chavan and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray in which both ministry officials were present. Chavan said, “A committee under PWD secretary Ulhas Debadwar including experts, PWD, forest and environment ministry officials, and collector will decide on the fate remaining trees by exploring alternative alignment, tree transplantation or other possibilities to develop road out without felling trees.”
Surprisingly, the meeting discussed saving 67 trees but, as reported, these many trees have already been felled and around 130 trees on 2km Bapu Kuti stretch remain for which protests have been launched. PWD has already chopped 70 big trees along 2km road patch.
TOI did a series of stories to save these trees. These reports were highlighted across the social media to draw attention of the government including Rahul Gandhi. Besides, six generations of Mahatma Gandhi’s kin had also voiced their opposition with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray and PWD.
“I’m grateful to Chavan and PWD for their quick intervention on the issue of felling trees on Wardha-Sevagram road. Chavan has asked the department to work on multiple options to save trees and also ensure road is smooth and safe for travel,” said Thackeray.
Thackeray added, “We received multiple representations on the issue both locally and internationally. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is committed to sustainable development.”
PWD superintending engineer Sushma Sakharwade said, “The committee will conduct inspection soon.”
“The Wardha Vruksha Bachao Samiti is happy government has taken note of our protests. The statements by Chavan and Thackeray are promising, though we do not want to be content with this temporary move and want no trees should be felled further,” said honorary wildlife warden Sanjay Ingle Tigaonkar.
Dr Alok Bang, an ecologist spearheading protests, said, “A tree is not just a tree, it's a mini-ecosystem supporting biodiversity of insects, birds and mammals, including humans. Cutting trees is exactly what we don't want. It is a foolhardy operation that even the development proponents shouldn't want. Our demand is that no trees be felled and not to allow any disturbance activities such as soil excavation and compaction within a 1.5-metre radius of each standing tree. Widen the road only as much as the tree-line allows."
"Since this road goes from Gandhi Chowk in Wardha to Gandhi’s Ashram in Sevagram, we want it to be named ‘Shanti-Path’. Let Wardha and Sevagram be recognised as a place of confluence of heritage, sustainability and modernism,” said Dr Vibha Gupta, director, Magan Sangrahalay Samiti.
Green Government
* MVA government led by Thackeray saved Tadoba by opposing Bander coal blocks in tiger reserve’s buffer
* Aaditya also wrote to Centre opposing Marki-Mangli-II coal blocks in tiger corridor of Tadoba-Tipeshwar
* Thackeray also opposed Human dam near Tadoba, which will fell 1.50 lakh trees and cut tiger corridor
* The government also opposed railway line upgradation through Melghat reserve
* The government notified 29.53 sqkm in Tillari Conservation Reserve in Sindhudurg
* In state wildlife board meeting on August 7, Thackeray made it clear development projects will not be at the cost of damage to environment
* MVA decided to declare 600 acres of land in Aarey Colony near SGNP in Mumbai as a reserve forest and conserve it