A major environmental controversy has surfaced in Nagpur after an RTI revelation alleged that 1.69 acres (0.6858 hectares) of forest land near Telangkhedi was diverted for a road project by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) without mandatory approval, raising serious questions over possible violations of environmental laws and court orders.
According to the RTI documents, the NMC undertook the road project connecting Nagpur Eye Hospital to the Telangkhedi area, issuing a tender on July 18, 2023. The project is estimated to cost over ?24.53 crore, with about ?15.32 crore allocated specifically for road construction. Activists claim that during the execution of this project, more than 43 trees were cut and forest land was used without obtaining the required permission under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, which mandates prior approval from the central government before forest land can be diverted for non-forest purposes.
Environmental activists have alleged that the move could also violate a 2006 Supreme Court order that strictly regulates the diversion of forest land. They argue that despite clear legal safeguards meant to protect urban green cover, the project proceeded without transparency and proper clearances.
Critics say the case highlights how infrastructure projects are increasingly pushing aside environmental norms, even in ecologically sensitive urban zones such as the Telangkhedi lake area. Activists have demanded a thorough investigation into the role of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and officials involved in approving or executing the project, warning that unchecked diversion of forest land could set a dangerous precedent for future development works in the city.
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