NAGPUR: A case has been registered against the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) and its Chhattisgarh-based Keystone Infra Build Global Civil Project Pvt Ltd for felling 150 trees, including 96 heritage trees and a neem tree, between April 20 and 25 for violating tree-cutting norms. The case was registered. and 23 in Ajni Railway Quarters which is part of the Extended Ajni Forest Area. Trees were cut along the railway track and C-Line to facilitate the proposed Ajni Railway Station redevelopment plan.
An offense was registered at the Imambara police station under relevant section of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Reservation of Trees Act.
Although the Green Crusaders had twice approached the Imambara police with evidence of the felling of trees, the police delayed action, saying the matter was still ‘sub-judicial’ as the high court had already taken up the matter with the Swachh Foundation. was hearing a petition opposing the proposed reduction. The extended green cover of Ajni forest at the expense of trees, some of which have been labeled ‘heritage’ with their age being more than 100 years.
The police decided to file an FIR after the High Court asked the government the reason for the delay in registering the offence.
The court, which has already issued notices to the concerned departments, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will now hear the matter again on June 9 after vacation.
The court had also granted interim relief to the petitioners by directing the authorities to stop work till further orders. It had also asked the RLDA and its private contractor to explain their stand as to why action cannot be taken against them. The petitioner had claimed before the court that the RLDA and its private contractor had not taken prior permission from the Maharashtra Tree Authority or the Nagpur Municipal Corporation before cutting and trimming the trees in the Ajni van.
Green crusaders, who had in the past filed a PIL against the destruction of the Ajni van to save the city from its destructive environmental impact, united against the proposed development plan at the cost of green cover.
A joint survey in the past said that the land had about 4,930 trees, including some heritage ones.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had to cancel its Intermodal Station (IMS) project at Ajni Van following a massive uproar by green vigilante activists. A ‘Save Ajni Van’ campaign had also gathered momentum to stop the project.
The latest announcement of a multimodal transport hub, almost at the same location where the IMS was opposed, had once again revived protests and litigation raising concerns over the development destroying the much-awaited green cover of the city.
The announcement of the latest project with malls, commercial complexes, entertainment hubs and so on has now ignited another round, joining hands to revive yet another episode of protest and agitation. The mega project plan will require adequate land from Nagpur Central Jail, Food Corporation of India, Government Medical College and Hospital and Irrigation Colony.
The protesters had also submitted a letter to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis last week expressing their protest.
An offense was registered at the Imambara police station under relevant section of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Reservation of Trees Act.
Although the Green Crusaders had twice approached the Imambara police with evidence of the felling of trees, the police delayed action, saying the matter was still ‘sub-judicial’ as the high court had already taken up the matter with the Swachh Foundation. was hearing a petition opposing the proposed reduction. The extended green cover of Ajni forest at the expense of trees, some of which have been labeled ‘heritage’ with their age being more than 100 years.
The police decided to file an FIR after the High Court asked the government the reason for the delay in registering the offence.
The court, which has already issued notices to the concerned departments, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will now hear the matter again on June 9 after vacation.
The court had also granted interim relief to the petitioners by directing the authorities to stop work till further orders. It had also asked the RLDA and its private contractor to explain their stand as to why action cannot be taken against them. The petitioner had claimed before the court that the RLDA and its private contractor had not taken prior permission from the Maharashtra Tree Authority or the Nagpur Municipal Corporation before cutting and trimming the trees in the Ajni van.
Green crusaders, who had in the past filed a PIL against the destruction of the Ajni van to save the city from its destructive environmental impact, united against the proposed development plan at the cost of green cover.
A joint survey in the past said that the land had about 4,930 trees, including some heritage ones.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had to cancel its Intermodal Station (IMS) project at Ajni Van following a massive uproar by green vigilante activists. A ‘Save Ajni Van’ campaign had also gathered momentum to stop the project.
The latest announcement of a multimodal transport hub, almost at the same location where the IMS was opposed, had once again revived protests and litigation raising concerns over the development destroying the much-awaited green cover of the city.
The announcement of the latest project with malls, commercial complexes, entertainment hubs and so on has now ignited another round, joining hands to revive yet another episode of protest and agitation. The mega project plan will require adequate land from Nagpur Central Jail, Food Corporation of India, Government Medical College and Hospital and Irrigation Colony.
The protesters had also submitted a letter to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis last week expressing their protest.