Where are the trees to compensate for those felled at altar of devpt projects, ask activists

Time of India

2 days ago

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Bhopal: As a city expands and develops in an 'unplanned' manner, with construction and infrastructure projects emerging everywhere, the green cover of the city is the first casualty.
Bhopal is a prime example of this trend, as per experts and activists.
And as the green cover, which was once the pride of Bhopal, vanishes, a question that attracts the attention of environmental activists and common residents alike is about the effectiveness of compensatory afforestation, which is required to offset the loss to green cover by any 'development' project.
As against one tree felled, four trees are required to be planted by the person or agency given permission to cut trees by the municipal corporation.
So where are those lakhs of trees that should've been planted over the years and why is green cover diminishing if these trees are being planted? These are questions to which authorities have no definite answers for, activists say.
Only in the two latest road projects—the Kolar road project, under which permission to cut as many as 4,105 trees was given, and the 11 Mile to Bangrasia road project, under which cut 1,377 trees were cut, environmental activists point out irregularities.
'RTI Reveals Delay'
Environmental activist Nitin Saxena, who moved the green watchdog NGT over the huge loss to the environment due to these projects because there was no compensatory afforestation, said, "We wish to know whether the site of afforestation has been decided for planting of trees and if the agency, which cut the trees, has deposited the amount required to undertake afforestation with the social forestry department, which was once a part of the Capital Project Administration (CPA).
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Saxena said that the PWD, which executed the Kolar road project, was required to pay Rs 1.26 crore to the social forestry department for compensatory afforestation to get an NOC from the BMC for cutting 4,105 trees, but the NOC was issued to PWD without depositing the amount.
Saxena added that he asked the BMC under RTI whether the requisite fund was deposited by the PWD for afforestation, and the reply was that a notice was issued to PWD in Jan to deposit the amount.
"More than 4,000 trees were cut, and they are still corresponding with the PWD to get the money for compensatory afforestation. Mind you, the project began in 2022, and it's 2025," Saxena said.
Saxena said that he moved the NGT asking the tribunal to check the cutting of trees for the 11 Mile to Bangrasia (Ratanpur road project), and the NGT on Jan 1, 2025, directed that trees should only be cut according to law and if necessary, but the cutting of trees continued, and now 700 trees are being cut for road and stadium construction at Neelbad.
"Our question is why the BMC commissioner, who is the tree officer entitled to allow the cutting of trees, has delegated his powers to a subordinate officer, which he can't do according to the Tree Protection Act (urban), and only the state govt can do it," said Saxena.
Govt Depts Pass Buck
BMC commissioner Harendra Narayan, when contacted for comments, said, "Our tree officer is additional commissioner Devendra Chauhan.
You talk to him; he will be able to give you information." Chauhan, when asked whether the PWD has deposited the amount for compensatory afforestation against trees cut in the Kolar project and where the trees have been planted, said, "We only give permission for cutting of trees only when the social forestry department gives us NOC after money is deposited.
I don't know about the Kolar project, but it's a matter between two govt departments; it will be done.
As far as the site of afforestation is concerned, it's for the social forestry department to plant trees and not BMC."
DFIO, social forestry, Nidhi Chauhan, when asked the same question, said, "I will have to see. I am new to the post. I can't tell you offhand whether the money was deposited or not. As far as the site of compensatory afforestation is concerned, we do face problems in getting land for afforestation. Getting NOC from the revenue department for the purpose is difficult at times.
As far as the number of trees that have to be planted, if the girth of the trees is 30 cm or more, four trees are planted against a tree felled, and if it's less than that, we plant two trees.
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'Act Silent On Compliance'
Advocate Harpreet Singh Gupta, who has appeared in several cases concerning environmental damage due to trees felling, when asked if there is any punitive action, said, "Tree Protection Act applicable in MP is silent over the issue. Permission to cut trees is given subject to the undertaking that compensatory plantation would be done, but there is no reference to punishment if undertaking is not adhered to."