State env ministry stops felling of 3,200 trees in Ytl

Nagpur: The state environment and climate change ministry has stopped the felling of over 3,200 big trees to widen the road by just two metres between Yavatmal-Darwha-Kukta on state highway no. 282.
In July and August last year, TOI had first reported how the tree felling would not only damage the environment but also affect tiger habitat in the area which connectes to Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Of the 4,000 trees earmarked to be cut in the 60km patch, 450 trees were already chopped by the public works department (PWD) in the non-forest area in July last year. Another 350 were cut in January. Till now 800 big trees have already been felled.
Perturbed by the latest felling of huge trees, a complaint was filed by the members of Swacch Association, Nagpur, with the Aaditya Thackeray-headed environment ministry. Within 24 hours, the Yavatmal district collector was directed to stop the felling.
“The road is being widened under a hybrid annuity model (HAM). It was sanctioned four years ago at an estimated cost of Rs 280 crore. The decision was taken by my predecessors, I’m just implementing it,” said superintending engineer Dhananjay Chamalwar.
According to Swacch Association, the road stretch is currently wide enough for the traffic. It also sees no major rise in the vehicular movement in the near future as alternative roads are available.
“These century-old trees are indigenous and have a a 3-5 metre girth. The lush green cover provides shade and shelter to travellers and is also home for hundreds of bird species and insects,” said Jaydeep Das, a Swacch member.
“The trees not only help reduce the temperature in the area during summer but also play a vital role in controlling air pollution and filtering the surrounding air. This is one of the most beautiful stretches in Maharashtra and the last remaining road stretch with green canopy in Yavatmal district,” added Das.
Das added that as the road passes through a forest area and a proposal for land diversion under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980 is pending. “Under the FCA provisions, without getting clearance from the forest department, the PWD cannot start road work on non-forest land,” he said.
According to Das, the Supreme Court has directed that the value of oxygen and timber should be compared with the financial cost of the project. “If this considered, it is financially viable to acquire land for a new alignment,” he said.
The Swacch Association has demanded that the Yavatmal-Darwah stretch be declared a heritage site.