Gujarat: 1,800 trees nurtured for 13 years bulldozed in Veraval

RAJKOT: Environment activists and nature lovers in the coastal Veraval town helplessly watched as nearly 1,800 trees were axed to make space for a commercial complex and auditorium, on Monday.
The trees, hundreds of which were over 20 foot tall, were part of a nature park that was developed, ironically with the blessings of Veraval municipality on an unused 9,584 sq m plot of the civic body.In fact, the green drive champions had been protesting against the civic body’s decision to permit commercial building here since 2018.
The activists, some of them from the Art Of Living Foundation, said of the around 1,800 trees run over by bulldozers, 850 had grown over 20 foot tall.
Vijay Sagar, one of the green warriors, said, “The civic body asked us to plant trees and maintain them. We also got saplings from the forest department for two years. Around 100 tree lovers of Veraval have been maintaining this park by spending money from our pockets. But all our efforts over the last 13 years was axed in a day.”
Sagar also claimed that the municipality had also issued a no-objection certificate to get water meter connections in their name so they can trees can be properly nurtured. “During Janmashtami festival, when contractors started cutting the trees, we approached the chief minister’s office (CMO) and they stopped. Thereafter, we went to meet then CM Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar and he assured us that no more trees would be cut.”
There were some tense moments when the activists hugged the trees and refused bull-dozing them.
When contacted, Jatin Mehta, chief officer, Veraval municipality said, “This is a reserve plot for a commercial complex under the town planning scheme and cann’t be used for any other purpose. The land was barren some years ago, so we had allowed tree plantation. We cut around 960 trees and most of the species did not require any permission for chopping.”
He added, “As per our contract condition, the contractor had to clean the site on his own. They (activists) wanted to represent higher authorities and wanted to explore legal options, so we gave them time. However, there was neither any order from the higher authorities nor a stay granted by the court to suspend our work, so we continued with it.” Mehta added.
However activists argued that if this plot was reserved for a commercial complex, then why were they asked to plant and maintain trees for so many years?