Nagpur: Amidst protest over the proposed inter-modal station at Ajni, the Central Railway has come under scanner for large-scale illegal felling of trees.
The trees were felled in anticipation of the old structure being demolished to make way for new residential quarters. Moreover, it has been done at a time when authorities have been assuring minimum environmental damage from the project.
As reported by TOI, thousands of age-old trees are facing the axe for construction of a transport hub and an inter-modal station at Ajni. The Rs 1,288.81 crore project is proposed on the Central Railway land, a thriving biodiversity habitat of bird and animal species.
The total project area, around 446 acres, also has old residential quarters of railway employees. The trees were cut on nearby land where the authorities plan to construct new residential towers.
According to the officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the railways failed to obtain the mandatory permission before tree felling. “A large number of age-old trees were cut in two places for making residential towers and an office. At both the places, permission from garden department was not taken,” said garden superintendent Amol Chorpagar.
A detailed inspection of the spot will be done by the garden department on Friday.
Environment activists, who have compared satellite photographs of the said area of last four years, claimed the damage was much more. “Hundreds of trees have been illegally chopped off by the authorities. Strict action should be taken against the topmost railway officials. Despite knowing the rules, they failed to take permission,” said green activist Shrikant Deshpande.
According to former honorary wildlife warden Jaydeep Das, the incident proves authorities’ indifference towards rules, leave aside their concern for the environment. “Secondly, this vindicates our stand that it is not about 1,900-odd trees that NHAI is harping on. The collateral damage may run way beyond 7,000 when this catastrophic project is executed on green island of Ajni. Alternatives have to be considered,” he added.
He added that compensatory plantations against the felled trees should be ensured.
The activists have been urging the authorities to consider alternative sites for the project which will involve less environmental damage. “If the authorities can’t even take mandatory permission for felling trees, how will they ensure minimum environmental damage while constructing the station? The project will destroy one of the last remaining green lungs of the city,” they added.