Taking cognisance of the report published in ‘The Hitavada’ on Tuesday about choking of trees on ‘London Street’, the Public Works Department (PWD) of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), on Wednesday, has started dechoking of trees. The department has ordered the contractor to start the process of dechoking trees and on Wednesday about 8-10 trees were dechoked. “We have initiated the process of dechoking of trees and the work will be finished in couple of days,” said Naresh Borkar, Executive Engineer, PWD, to The Hitavada.

 

“NMC is concerned about city’s environment and for the whole London Street project, we have tried to save more and more trees on the stretch. There are just four trees on the road that are going to be cut,” stated Borkar. The Hitavada had published couple of reports on choking of trees on ‘London Street’ for the development of the street. Later, Green Vigil Foundation, a city NGO working in the field of environment also raised voice against the issue and approached NMC’s Garden Department. On Wednesday, team members of the NGO met senior officials of Public Works Department in this regard. Public Works Department initiated the dechoking process from the afternoon. “We are not against the development of the city. But in the name of progress no one can spoil the environment,” said Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation.

 

“We are happy that NMC took immediate step and initiated the dechoking process on the footpaths of the London Street,” he added. Environment activist Anasuya Kale Chhabrani said, “We normally blame the civic body for all issues. However, we citizens must also come forward and try to solve the issues that can be managed at our level.” The corporators also play a major role in solving small issues of the city. They should raise voice against such careless work going on in their constituency, said Chhabrani. She said, “There is a High Court order which states to leave space around trees to avoid choking. Along with NMC, the Public Works Department and National Highway Authority of India also have to follow the order and they should also instruct their contractors to save trees while construction of roads.”