After the objections from people across the city,Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has extended the date for filing objection against the felling of 4,930 trees in AjniVann for construction of Inter Modal Station (IMS) till June 30. On Thursday, the Garden Department published its revised letter in a newspaper, seeking objections from the citizens about the tree felling till June 30. Earlier, the time span was just for seven days. Enraged by the proposed large-scale loss of green cover in and around Ajni, the environmentalists have raised objections against the tree felling before the Government of Maharashtra.
The activists have requested the Garden Department to extend the last date of filing objections till June 30 as the city is under lockdown due to the pandemic and seven days’ time was not enough to get more and more objections on the tree felling issue. According to the notice served earlier, 4,522 trees are proposed to be axed from Ajni Railway Office, Railway Mens High School, Kendriya Vidyalaya Ajni premises, Ajni Railway Colony, Ajni Post Office, Ashok Vatika and a private school building. Similarly, 408 trees are proposed to be cut down from the Plot No 4 for construction of new DCP Office, Post Office and a school in Ajni area.
The notice also stated that the objections should be addressed to Garden Superintendent or Tree Inspector of NMC. Though the environment activists have welcomed the stand of NMC for extending the time limit, the issue of tree felling is still there and the people of Nagpur are showing their support to save Ajni Vann. The activists are also conducting signature campaign to gather more support from citizens and it is also getting good response.