GMCH proposes to cut 294 trees in its premises
| Date :25-May-2023 |
By Kaushik Bhattacharya
Despite strict rules by the Maharashtra Government to curb tree-felling, the cases of illegal chopping of trees in city are increasing day by day. Even the Government authorities are adopting various ways to tweak the rules for cutting trees. In a recent incident, the administration of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur has sought permission from Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to fell 294 trees in its premises. In this regard, NMC published a notice of public hearing in local newspapers on May 22 and invited written objections from citizens within seven days of publication of the notice.
According to the amended Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 2021, the local tree authority has to be careful about applications by project proponents seeking permission for felling of more than 200 trees. In case, a project requires felling of more than 200 trees then the proposal for permission will be sent by the local tree authority to the State Tree Committee. Violating the rule, the GMCH administration has sought permission from NMC to fell 294 trees at its premises. The GMCH administration has cited three different projects. According to the public hearing notice, the GMCH administration has asked the Garden Department to fell 21 trees in its premises for its upcoming Platinum Jubilee event scheduled in December 2023. In its application to NMC, the GMCH administration has sought to cut various trees including Raintree (1), Apta (1), Palas (1), Ashoka (12), Neem (3), and Wallely trees (3) standing in its premises.
In the same notice, the GMCH administration has sought permission to cut 187 trees to construct a 400-room Girls’ Hostel near its Bungalow No 7 and 8. For this project, it wants to cut 140 Cassia trees, 38 Gulmohar trees, 5 Sheesham trees, 5 Rowan trees, 2 Chichbilai trees, one each of Neem and Katesaori. Similarly, the GMCH administration has sought NMC nod to chop 86 trees in its premises for 80-bed paying ward. For this project, the hospital management wants to cut 51 Cassia trees, 18 Gulmohar trees, 4 Kadamba trees, 6 Subabool trees, 2 Kinhi trees, and 1 tree each of Neem, Katesaori, Karanji, Sheesham and Chichwa.
Few years ago, the GMCH administration had cut more than 180 trees for construction of its Trauma Centre in the hospital premises which was not required. No one raised objection then. But this time, the environment activists are objecting to cutting of 294 trees in GMCH premises. Sachin Khobragade, former local tree committee member, said, “The Garden Department of NMC is ignoring the facts and allegedly violating the rules by conducting public hearing. NMC should transfer the matter to the State Tree Committee instead of publishing notice of the public hearing.” The GMCH and Ajni Railway Colony areas with dense trees are only green patches in South-West Nagpur. But the Garden Department is allegedly encouraging project proponents by giving them permission or conducting public hearing for such nature-destructive projects, added Khobragade.