The ambitious qoopredevelopment of Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital at Sakkardara has hit an environmental flashpoint, with a proposal to cut down 420 trees — including 28 heritage trees — to make way for a new seven-storey building. On Tuesday, NMC Commissioner Dr. Abhijeet Chaudhari visited the site to assess the environmental impact firsthand.
Backed by state government funding, the project promises to double UG seats from 100 to 200, add 100 PG seats, and increase hospital bed capacity to 364, turning the 1965-built facility into a modern hub for Ayurvedic education and treatment.
However, the lush 15-acre green campus now stands at a crossroads. While the redevelopment is being hailed as a leap forward for healthcare, the proposed felling of 392 non-heritage and 28 heritage trees has sparked concern among environmentalists and citizens alike.
During the inspection, Dr. Chaudhari directed the Public Works Department and NMC’s Garden Department to make every effort to save the heritage trees. If cutting is unavoidable, he insisted on compensatory plantations and replantation as mandatory steps. “Development is necessary, but not at the cost of nature,” he stressed.
Senior officials including Additional Commissioner Vaishnavi B., PWD engineers, garden officers, and the college’s dean Dr. Rajendra Sonkar were present at the review. The final call on tree cutting will weigh both infrastructure needs and environmental balance.
As Nagpur awaits a healthcare upgrade, the city must also decide how much of its green heritage it is willing to sacrifice.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com