The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) makes tall claim when it comes to road widening and development, but is mum on unforeseen damage to environment.
NHAI is going to cut 11,217 trees between Nagpur and Betul stretch on NH-69 to widen road from two-lanes to four-lanes. However, NHAI doesn't seem to know the extent of environment that it may cause. The cost of the project is Rs 2,498.76 crore.
TOI had sought information on 17 counts under the RTI from project implementation unit, Pandhurna, on the development of road from Nagpur to Betul.
One of these queries was on number trees felled. NHAI project director, UM Shambharkar replied that it will cut 11,217 trees between Nagpur and Betul. It includes 2,540 trees in Betul district, 4,761 in Chhindwara and 3,916 in Nagpur.
However, NHAI is mum on the age and tree species that are going to be felled, despite the fact that a pre-survey is conducted before felling them. Recently, TOI had exposed how over a 100-year-old banyan tree on Amravati road was chopped by NHAI even as it was not in the list of trees that were to be chopped.
As to the query, how much will be the environmental loss if trees on Nagpur-Betul stretch were felled, NHAI says as work on felling trees has not yet started, there is no environmental cost loss.
However, NHAI is maintaining silence on issues like loss of oxygen, soil conservation, depleting water levels, humans breathing much carbon dioxide and animals losing their habitat.
NHAI's explanation is not satisfactory as such projects require environment impact assessment (EIA) report to take care of these issues.
As mitigation measure, NHAI said it will plant large and medium sized trees at an interval of 7.5 metres on the road sides. "The environment cost loss will be compensated by fulfilling ministry of environment and forest ( MoEF) guidelines and conditions," said a NHAI source.
However, If you consider four-laning of NH6 from Deori to Lakhni, NHAI has violated the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
Moreover, if the stretch between Nagpur and Talegaon is considered, most trees planted in lieu of those felled have died due to neglect, a fact which the authority itself admits in an affidavit filed on a PIL being heard in the high court.
NHAI is going to cut 11,217 trees between Nagpur and Betul stretch on NH-69 to widen road from two-lanes to four-lanes. However, NHAI doesn't seem to know the extent of environment that it may cause. The cost of the project is Rs 2,498.76 crore.
TOI had sought information on 17 counts under the RTI from project implementation unit, Pandhurna, on the development of road from Nagpur to Betul.
One of these queries was on number trees felled. NHAI project director, UM Shambharkar replied that it will cut 11,217 trees between Nagpur and Betul. It includes 2,540 trees in Betul district, 4,761 in Chhindwara and 3,916 in Nagpur.
However, NHAI is mum on the age and tree species that are going to be felled, despite the fact that a pre-survey is conducted before felling them. Recently, TOI had exposed how over a 100-year-old banyan tree on Amravati road was chopped by NHAI even as it was not in the list of trees that were to be chopped.
As to the query, how much will be the environmental loss if trees on Nagpur-Betul stretch were felled, NHAI says as work on felling trees has not yet started, there is no environmental cost loss.
However, NHAI is maintaining silence on issues like loss of oxygen, soil conservation, depleting water levels, humans breathing much carbon dioxide and animals losing their habitat.
NHAI's explanation is not satisfactory as such projects require environment impact assessment (EIA) report to take care of these issues.
As mitigation measure, NHAI said it will plant large and medium sized trees at an interval of 7.5 metres on the road sides. "The environment cost loss will be compensated by fulfilling ministry of environment and forest ( MoEF) guidelines and conditions," said a NHAI source.
However, If you consider four-laning of NH6 from Deori to Lakhni, NHAI has violated the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980.
Moreover, if the stretch between Nagpur and Talegaon is considered, most trees planted in lieu of those felled have died due to neglect, a fact which the authority itself admits in an affidavit filed on a PIL being heard in the high court.
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