Nagpur: Public hearing on tree logging in the city turned out to be a storm affair on Tuesday morning, with angry residents holding their land on rampant destruction on behalf of development.
While at first an official from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Department tried to go for individual hearings, residents insisted on hearing the public to “ensure transparency and accountability.” In the midst of the heated argument, residents presented satellite images from the opposite areas of Lake Futala, which was recently published by TOI.
Authority’s countermeasure ‘claimed that only about 28 trees were cut, residents were questioned, “Even a layman can see the picture and notify that hundreds of trees have been cut.
Why did Mahametro be allowed to start the project without getting an environmental permit?” Toi has reported on Tuesday that NMC has given permission to Mahametro to fall 16 trees in the area.
Shows the changed state tree law, said activist, “why permission is given in bits and pieces for the futala project.
It oppose new norms.
Also, why does NMC not do public hearing before giving a nod to cut trees?” With residents Unanimously demanded tight action against Mahametro and Private Contractor DP Jain, supervisor of NMC Amol Chorpagar Park and other officials reported convincing citizens that the investigation would be made.
“We will see this problem and if we find that trees have been cut illegally, we will submit FIR,” said the residents.
Other mass objections against the logging of large-scale trees proposed in fertile green places from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neer) for the parking area of ​​the Ajni Metro Station.
Clarifying that when logging may include more than 200 trees, citizenship officials are reported to notify citizens that this problem will be in the hands of state tree authorities according to the rules that are amended.
Toi tried to contact NMC officials, but could not get a response.
Right after public hearing, residents went straight to the Ambazari police station and filed a complaint against Mahametro.
Senior Inspector Ashok Bagul from the Ambazari police station said complaints from environmental lovers have been accepted and are being seen.
“The NMC tree plantation officer is carrying out the trial.
The report was awaited.
We must refer to the report before taking any action,” he said, adding to his interests is given to the problems raised by both parties.
“Reports of environmental lovers will be sent for legal opinions.
We will also refer to the supervisory level officer and wait for their instructions,” Bagul said, adding relevant provisions related to the trees in the urban environment will be referred to handle complaints.