Home / Environment / Trees face axe for road expansion in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Trees face axe for road expansion in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
16 Mar
Summary
- Over 700 trees may be cut for road widening near Daulatabad.
- Nature lovers petition NGT, citing procedural violations.
- Heritage trees older than 50 years are among those threatened.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a significant number of trees, estimated to be over 700 and possibly reaching 1,000, are slated for felling to facilitate road widening. This expansion targets the stretch from Nagar Naka to Daulatabad T-Point, crucial for accessing popular tourist sites like Ellora Caves and Grishneshwar Temple. A portion of these trees are identified as heritage specimens, over 50 years old, including native species like banyan and neem.
Nature lovers have lodged a complaint with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking to halt the tree cutting. Petitioners argue that the Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to adhere to established procedures for tree removal and has not been transparent about the exact number of trees to be felled. While the PWD's submission indicates 712 trees, local municipal records suggest a higher figure of 748 within city limits alone. The NGT has accepted the case, and urgent hearing is requested due to reports of felling already commencing.
