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Heritage Tree Falls: Roadwork Blamed in Nagpur
22 Jul
Summary
- A 150-year-old heritage peepal tree collapsed on Wednesday morning.
- Locals and a corporator blame road widening for the tree's fall.
- The incident raises concerns about protecting heritage trees during construction.
A significant heritage landmark, a 150-year-old peepal tree in Nagpur's Hansapuri, fell on Wednesday morning. The massive tree landed on a vacant house-cum-shop on Ganjakhet Road, causing structural damage but fortunately no injuries. Power supply to the locality was disrupted for nearly three hours due to snapped power lines.
Residents and local corporator Sanjay Balpande have pointed fingers at the ongoing Bhandara Road widening project. They claim that excavation work for the road and utilities exposed and severed the tree's roots, critically weakening its stability. Balpande stated he had previously warned authorities about the weakened roots.
The collapse has reignited concerns about the safeguarding of heritage trees during infrastructure development. An independent inquiry has been demanded to ascertain if excavation near the tree's root zone caused the incident. Separately, recent rain and winds uprooted trees at three other city locations.
