Commemorating the win of Bharat Van, the struggle and the longest protest held in Nagpur should be remembered as a proof that this city is not simply called as the one of the greenest cities in India. The unheard voices should be remembered along the human chains that were meant to save thousands of trees.
Mother Nature would be thanking all the Nagpurians for their brave side and saving her from the lashes of heavy construction. Remembering the battle against Maha Metro here’s a list of how the nature lovers won against the sick minded developers, who pose a threat to all of the oxygen consumers.
October 27 2018: Due to heavy construction work was proposed and redevelopment orders were issued in the city, a new DP road was put forth by NMC and Maha Metro to divert the traffic.
November 7 2018: Wildlife warden of Nagpur Jaydeep Das wrote a letter to Bombay High Court informing the chief justice of Bombay HC that a large green patch providing enough oxygen and maintaining a favourable climatic condition in the city is about to be cut. This construction would also involve chopping down of over 500 age old trees.
December 5 2018: High Court stepped in the issue as a suo motu has been filed.
February 28 2019: HC stayed the chopping of trees in its first haring.
March 3 2019: A first official meeting of protestor is held near a dairy shop. The protestor discussed their strategies over a chipko movement.
March 10 2019: Area corporators joined their hands in the fight against chopping of trees.
March 29 2019: Notices are issued sent by the HC to state chief secretary, NMC, Maha Metro and other respondents included in this case.
April 21 2019: Dia Mriza, Bollywood fame, who is also the United Nations Environment Goodwill Ambassador joins the movement.
May 3 2019: civiliasn protest forming a human chain at futal lake.
June 1 2019: NMC issues a public notice saying that 101 big and medium trees and 457 small trees are likely to be cut down as they are interfering in the construction process.
June 21 2019: Protestors wrote 1500 letters to NMC against their decision of tree cutting.
June 29 2019: Nitin Gadkari, union minister held a discussion over having alternate ways for DP road construction.
October 11 2019: Constructions of an alternate road going through two playgrounds is proposed by NMC.
November 25 2019: protestors and activists stand against the survey by State PWD for the said road construction.
January 1 2020: The plan is dropped by Maha metro and PWD during a meeting with Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Bangar.
January 19 2020: Request by Maha metro is rejected by NMC, formally.
February 26 2020: HC disposed off the suo motu with a positive outcome.
