The Nagpur Municipal Commissioner submitted an affidavit in the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court against the Railway Land Development Authority for cutting over two hundred trees without permission for the Inter Model Station project in Ajni.
Swachh Association has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court to ensure that the environment is not damaged while implementing this project. Meanwhile, the association had alleged that many trees were being illegally cut for the project. Also, it was said that a complaint was submitted to the Municipal Corporation on April 22.
The court ordered the Municipal Corporation to submit an affidavit in this regard.
After a complaint by the Swachh Association, the Garden Superintendent of NMC conducted a survey of the project site, it was found that 97 trees in one area and 100 to 120 trees in the other area had been cut without permission, the NMC said in an affidavit.
In the first phase of the Inter Model Station project, development works will be done on 54 acres of land. Rail Land Development Authority has appointed contractor Keystone Infra Build to carry out the development works. The contractor submitted an application to the Municipal Tree Authority on April 12, 2023 seeking permission to cut only two trees. The Garden Superintendent sent a letter to the contractor on April 18, instructing him to plant 76 new trees and maintain them for seven years.
Subsequently, on June 1, the Tree Authority granted permission to Keystone to cut two trees on the condition that they comply with this directive. But other trees were cut down without permission. Currently, there are 357 trees left at the project site, the NMC also told the court.
The NMC has filed a complaint at the Imamwada police station against the illegal felling of trees. Based on this, the police have registered an FIR under Section 21 of the Tree Conservation Act.. Besides, NMC Garden Superintendent issued notices to both Rail Authority and Keystone on April 25. The Municipal Corporation has also stated in the affidavit that they submitted a reply to the notice and refuted the allegations.