People’s court hears the plea of trees
   Date :08-May-2019

In the line of death: This tree just outside the High Court, after getting embedded into cement, died in due course. It could not knock the door of High Court that is hearing the case of choking of trees. Other trees, in the same line, which are choked by the brazen act of contractors, are gasping for breath.
 
 
Staff Reporter:
 
‘The Hitavada’ Tree campaign receives overwhelming response 
 
‘THE Hitavada’ has been writing about the trees being choked because of road concretisation work and it also made an appeal asking people to participate in the campaign to which people, organisations from all over the country responded. They lauded the efforts of this newspaper for compelling civic authorities to take measures to save trees.
 
Everybody extended their thanks for this effort to save the tree. News reports that ‘The Hitavada’ published regarding choking of trees are also making rounds on social media and it is being discussed not only in Nagpur but also in other parts of the country. Appreciating the campaign Prathmesh Dupare, a citizen, said that from the campaign his belief in the existence of good people on Earth grew stronger. “Your work enhances every reader’s potential to save green cover. We are also trying our best in our area. Again, thanks to you....” said Dupare. Dr Anjan Kumar Chatterjee, retired Additional Director General, Geological Survey of India (GSI) said, “The mindless and wanton concretisation of our city has had a throttling and suffocating effect on the well-being of full-grown trees.
 
 
Many old trees have perished, as a result. Kudos to ‘Team Hitavada’ for highlighting the precarious condition of several old trees that have for ages been a prominent part of the city’s green cover. Apart from the news reports, the pictures have had a lasting effect on our mindsets.” Dr Chatterjee further commented, “An official census of trees has been suggested by you, to ascertain the present status of the city’s green cover. After such a census is undertaken, it is suggested that annual audits of all such census-listed trees be carried out.
 
 
The audit committee can comprise officials from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) including the Garden Officer, other State Government officials from the Forest Department, PWD and nominated members from registered and acclaimed NGOs. The news reports have woken up the NMC officials. Let us hope good work is done and the green cover of our city gets retained and also multiplied.” Senior leader of Nationalist Congress Party, former Minister Anil Deshmukh gave full marks to the tree campaign. Deshmukh in a letter sent to ‘The Hitavada’ office said, “I am glad the newspaper is not under a wrong impression that everything was in place and greening of our city is proceeding at a good pace and in the right direction to achieve contentment soon. For filling in the required gaps already lot of measures have been recommended in the article.
 
 
These measures are welcome but not good enough.” Deshmukh further shared personal experiences, “A relative of mine in 1960 stayed in a bungalow on Ramgiri Road which houses the present day’s Officers Club. After sundown, jackals, wildboars and bluebells would come visiting their premises. Even today when I survey our surrounds from top of a tall building in Civil Lines, I feel that I am among the fortunate few to have the green cover. Both these situations are worsening at a fast pace. Most of the old trees are breathing their last! They have to be replaced by the young Indian tree species likeVad, Peepal, Chinch, Amla, Amba, Neem, Tendu, Mahua, Hirda, Behada, Arjun and so on.” Appealing public to conduct activities wherein the closeness with trees can be developed, Deshmukh pointed out, “Visit of girls can be conducted to the heritage tree to tie Rakhi to tree on the‘Rakshabandhan’. From time to time greening of all Commissionerate headquarters was tried.
 
 
Nature had been very kind to Vidarbha. Unfortunately this kindness injects complacency among the locals who rest on the past glory and wake up late. In the light of above I once again congratulate the campaign.” Mohan Vasant Deshpande, a citizen, commented, “To clear tree trunk (to prevent them from choking, suffocation) from concrete /bitumen is gaining momentum. As a nature lover, I appreciate your great contribution. Some plants are drying for want of water due to scorching heat. Thanking you for every effort to save nature. I believe that protecting trees and plants is moral responsibility of every citizen. Many citizen in our Sonegaon could be seen Wateringplants. I am proud to be one of them. Besides this, I keep some plastic bottles in my scooter or car. Wherever I find plant, drying due to water,Igive water to it. Without public participation it is difficult to keep our lovely city Green. This tree campaign to clear tree trunk (to prevent them from choking, suffocation)from concrete /bitumen yielding good result. Most of the time the contractors doing road, pavement work do notleave space around the tree.Why to blame only contractors, the Department (personin charge) is equally responsible.
 
Enough awareness should be created in this regard. SD Gomkale remarked, “Over the last few days the newspaper is venting right concern on above subjectforour city,Nagpur which a couple of decades back was one amongst those in the country having a good green cover. Green is a measure of good environment. But indiscriminate cutting/ felling of trees forthe sake of development which at present mainly covers construction of wide, smooth ( ? ) cementroads, high rise buildings, business and residential complexes etc.
 
During re surfacing work on asphalted road stretch between VNIT gate in Abhyankar nagar to LAD college square I pointed out how the finishing on the side edges of the road will be dangerous forthe two wheelers to the contractor who told that on his mention to make road safer the supervisor asked him to carry out the work as instructed. I asked him about the trees on the footpaths and those on roadside. He said that he would take care of them by digging surrounding area at bottom of the tree so that rainwater will go down.
 
The contractor proved to be an honest one as even after 8 to 10 years I have not seen a pit or a bad damage in the laid asphalt layer on that stretch of the road.The point that I want to make is when authorities award work of construction or repairs of road to a contractor they should give all instructions and guidance for protection and minimal damages to trees in the way. Similar responded are given by Dr Amishi Arora, Director of Central India Institute of Business  Management Institute,Pramod Vairagade, Director of Jhulelal Institute of Technology; DrPLeherwani, noted Diabetologist; Dr Hemant Asrani, noted Dentist, Arun Kumar Gupta, Dr Sanjay Soni, noted businessman, Shanoor Mirza, Principal of Tata Parsi girls high school and junior college; Dr Mousumi Bhowal, Head, Department of Botany, Hislop College; Shubhra Roy,a teacher of English with Somalwar High School, Ramdaspeth; Dr Puja Pathak,a teacher of Architecture;Dr P Sivaswaroop, Regional Director of IGNOU, Dr Sujata Deo, Dr R Lihitkar, Dr Abhay Khamborkar, Prof Chandra of Institute of Science.