Survey reveals irregularities in tree felling for Akola-Washim road widening

Nagpur: The joint survey team of Akola forest officials and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) engineers found several flaws in tree felling within 10km section of Akola-Medshi-Washim National Highway 161 near Akola. Apart from felling trees even after the permission had lapsed, the team found many trees marked ‘not to be felled’ also chopped.
After TOI report on February 12, 2021, about the mismatch of over 3,000 trees, Akola deputy conservator of forest (DyCF) Arjuna KR had ordered a joint survey of trees on February 16 on the highway that is being widened.
Akola assistant conservator of forests (ACF) SA Wadode, who was part of the survey team, said, “Only 10km section from Prabhat Kids School to Nandkhed Fata near Akola was surveyed and at least 10 trees were found to be cut illegally. There were some flaws and irregularities but these occurred due to human error.”
Akola DyCF Arjuna said, “I’m in home quarantine and hence no action has been taken yet. I will take a stand once I join duties and see the report.”
Green activists Shrikant Deshpande and Jaydeep Das slammed the lackadaisical approach of the forest department. Both were invited for the survey but could not make it. They said, “As per the PWD’s arboriculture register, there were 10,000 plus trees in the said section but when the road was handed over to the NHAI for four-laning, 7,402 trees were recorded as per RTI information.”
Sheikh Mohammed Sheikh Makbul alias Munna, founder of Sarpamitra Nisarga Samvardhan Bahuuddeshia Sanstha, Akola, had lodged a complaint with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and top authorities for various flaws in the counting of the trees in 47km Akola-Medshi section and also illegal felling by the NHAI contractor. The state government has already ordered an inquiry.
Munna said, “During the survey, it was also found that over 20 big trees of the 177 between Akola-Shirla Fata that were marked ‘not to be felled’ were also cut. Many trees that were standing on farmers' land after the acquisition were felled without seeking permission. No evaluation of these trees was done.”
Munna alleged, “The forest department’s joint survey is completely an eyewash as all timber has been lifted and there is no evidence of felling. The officials are trying to play down the damage. How can the officials conclude 10 trees were felled illegally when the entire 47km stretch was not surveyed. I have given my dissent to the survey report.”
“Forest officials are claiming only two trees were felled after NHAI’s permission to fell trees lapsed on February 4. However, tree felling continued even on February 5. I called on forest officials to apprise them of the situation but none responded,” said Munna.
Deshpande and Das said, “As per tree felling permission granted by Akola RFO RN Owe on January 6, 2021, 177 trees that were not to be felled were clearly marked with red cross but many of these were also chopped illegally. Owe also granted permission to fell trees outside his jurisdiction in the municipal limit.”
The duo said NHAI lodging a police complaint on December 17, 2020, regarding trees being cut illegally in this section itself exposes irregularities. “Even now time is not lost. Over 2,000 trees could be saved and the officials should pursue NHAI to shift the alignment of the road slightly so that trees on one side can be saved as decided in DPR initially,” Deshpande said.
As per recent observation of the Supreme Court-appointed committee, future evaluation of trees should be done considering the expected life and value of services given by tree. “The forest department should be cautious while granting permission to fell,” said Das.