The eleven-month struggle, a venture to save an emotion-filled patch of Nagpur city, the Bharat Van has finally been saved from getting chopped off by the hands of city developers. Maharashtra government has dropped the idea of constructing a road through Bharat Van.
A meeting was held on Friday, chaired by Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari during which this decision was taken by top governmental officials. The meeting held in the presence of Gadkari happened to end in the favor of the nature lovers and the citizens who were appalled at the thought of destroying the forest as the road would have slowly choked other trees in the area.
Land and the forest owned by Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) was in threat as it was supposed to chop more than 500 full-grown trees if the plan would have gone as per the plan. However, people of all ages, especially the teenagers had agitated against the decision by NMC and Maha Metro of cutting down a big patch of Bharat Van. This movement attracted NGOs in great amount and with their support, it has finally won the battle against Maha Metro and NMC.
Officials present at the meeting suggested an alternate way to Bharat Van. After a long discussion, Municipal Commissioner, Abhijeet Bangar mooted laying a through the road ahead of Ravi Nagar Square. It is decided to make a way through the grounds surrounded by Government Quarters in Ravi Nagar Colony.
The final call from the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court is yet to be decided. The High Court is hearing the challenge to the proposal of Maha Metro to construct a road through Bharat Van.
A revised proposal from all the associated agencies will be submitted at the court through the Public Work Department (PWD). If at all High Court accepts the alternative proposal then work on the proposal would start immediately.
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