2nd nod for trees to be cut at Neeri for Metro parking plaza

Nagpur: Nearly six months after granting permission to chop down 249 trees for the parking plaza of Ajni Metro station, the state tree authority once again discussed the issue in its review meeting held in Mumbai on Friday.
According to a source in the state environment department, the proposal to cut these trees at National Environmental Engineering Research Institute’s (Neeri) premises is more or less cleared. “We have sent out a few minor queries but that will not stop the cutting of the trees. MahaMetro will have to carry out compensatory plantations in consultation with the civic body, most probably at Ambazari,” he told TOI.
In its fourth meeting held on December 8, 2022, the committee had given permission to cut 249 trees in the premises of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri). While it is not known for certain why the issue came up on the agenda again, official sources said that it might be due to the letters sent to the authority by local environmentalists.
In one such letter, president of NGO Swacch Association Anasuya Kale Chhabrani had appealed cancellation of the permission, pointing out that alternate land was available. “Alternative sites are available for which no trees need to be cut. While the proposed site for the parking area is nearly 150 meters away from the metro station, there is an alternate land adjacent to the abandoned road to the station, hardly 30 meters away,” she stated.
Environmentalists have also expressed concern over the biodiversity loss that cutting down these 249 trees will lead to. “The proposed site is one of the last remaining lush green areas. Neeri’s premises is not only home to a variety of trees but also peacocks, various species of birds and other biodiversity,” they stated.
While giving clearance to the project earlier, the tree authority had laid down some conditions for the project proponent, including planting of new trees of indigenous species equivalent to the cumulative age of trees proposed to be cut. As per the proposal, the age was 4,945 trees.
The authority had added that the plantations should be geo-tagged and monitored continuously using latest technologies, ensuring the survival of trees for a minimum period of seven years.